Children listen to music more than they play on the computer — a key indicator of what may influence their personalities, experts say.

 

Adolescents between ages 8 and 18 listen to nearly two hours of music per day, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. By comparison, adolescents average just more than an hour each day on recreational computer usage, including playing games, instant messaging and visiting Web sites.

 

With music becoming an integral part of youths' lives as they age, experts say parents can use the medium as a platform for communicating with their children, potentially keeping them out of trouble, and even making them smarter.

 

Studies have shown that introducing children to music while they are still developing can be very beneficial, promoting brain function and fostering critical-thinking skills. Students with experience in music performance have been shown to do better on standardized tests such as the SAT, according to reports by the College Entrance Examination Board. In 2005, students of the arts scored 56 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 39 points higher on the math portion than students without experience in music performance or appreciation.

 

Mary Palmer, a professor emeritus who taught music education at the University of Central Florida for more than 30 years, founded Connect with Music, a program that teaches parents and their children up to 24 months old how to use music.

 

Participants in the program are urged to actively involve their children in music, bouncing babies and moving their arms in time with the sounds. Older children are introduced to musical instruments, which may lead to more serious study later in life.

 

Active participation in music is key, Palmer said, citing activities such as open-air concerts to get kids engaged with both the music and their parents.

 

Palmer also credits exposure to a broad range of music at a young age with helping to develop more well-rounded individuals.

 

"Kids are more tolerant [of familiar music], just as we are tolerant of people we know," she said, alluding to the idea that a diverse background can lead to a generally more tolerant attitude.

 

With that spirit in mind, Palmer said that parents can stay active in their young adolescents' lives by maintaining a dialogue about each other's interests.

 

"Pop culture is important to kids at that age," she said. "Parents who take the time to talk in an accepting way can build common ground."

 

Some parents still have concerns that the music their children choose to listen to may be causing more harm than good.

 

The tragic shootings at Columbine High School in 1999 triggered a wave of outrage at certain music genres and artists after it was purported that the shooters, two Columbine High students, favored "dark" music, including artists such as Marilyn Manson, a heavy-metal rock act known for explicit lyrics and shocking behavior.

 

A study by the RAND Corp. shows that teens who listen to music that includes lyrics that sexually objectify women or praise men for voracious sexual appetites are more likely to become sexually active earlier in their youth.

 

There have been surveys, though, that suggest that teens aren't attracted to the lyrics as much as they are to the music. Teens reported that they don't always pay attention to the lyrics of songs, but mostly listen for the beat or melody.

 

Regardless of musical preferences, child psychologists warn that parents should be aware of their child's behavior, especially as they enter puberty. 

 

Potential warning signs of concerning adolescent behavior include a dramatic change in school performance, emotional withdrawal or isolation, extreme attention to or change in personal appearance, or loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities.

 

Karen Astringer, a counselor with Resilience Counseling Center in Oviedo, who specializes in children and families, said that parents should try to be aware of everything that their children are listening to and watching, not just music.

 

"Children at a very young age are using inappropriate language, it's up to parents to monitor music the same way they would television, the Internet, their MySpace," she said.

 

Astringer said that no one medium is worse than another for teaching kids bad behavior, but that it's the parents' responsibility to teach children what is acceptable.

 

Experts agree that open, frequent communication between parents and children is vital to a healthy relationship, and a strong foundation in music can be an excellent starting point to bridge the generational gap.