Not only does it soothe the savage beast, but music also makes unruly children calmer while at the same time honing their facilities for cognitive skills and physical coordination, according to a leading expert.

A mother's soft lullaby, granddad's whistling or a father singing in the shower-all of these musical activities serve to help an infant not only in acquiring linguistic skills, but also in learning how human beings interact.

"Experiments have shown that unborn babies in the womb appear to relax in response to certain music and also that they seem to recognize this music after birth," says Professor Michael Schulte-Markwort, head of child psychology at Hamburg's University Hospital in Germany.

"From the outset, music helps the language centers in the brain to develop so that children who have been exposed to music at an early age tend to learn to speak earlier than those who are born into non-musical homes," Dr. Schulte-Markwort says.

"Music also helps in the development of motor skills while at the same time reducing tension," he adds.

Rhythm and dancing train young muscles so that musical children are healthier and better coordinated than children whose parents never teach them to sing and dance and play a simple drum or other instrument.

"It is important to remember the fun factor," Schulte-Markwort stresses. "Singing, dancing and playing musical instruments must first and foremost be fun for children."

savage (adj.) 野蛮的;残酷的

unruly (adj.) 不守规矩的;任性的

cognitive (adj.) 认知力的;认知的

lullaby (n.) 摇篮曲;催眠歌

linguistic (adj.) 语言的;语言上的

from the outset 开始;开头

to be exposed to 接触;暴露

motor skills 动作技能

rhythm (n.) 节奏;律动

first and foremost 首先;第一优先