Ep 8: Caught, Not Taught: How Children Absorb Language & Music Without Even Trying

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Ever wondered how toddlers seem to magically pick up words, songs and even little habits—without anyone actually teaching them? They’re not memorising flashcards or sitting through lessons, yet their brains are working overtime, soaking up everything around them.

In this episode of The Little Harmonies Podcast, we’re diving into the fascinating world of early childhood learning, where knowledge isn’t taught—it’s caught. We’ll explore:

🎶 Why music and speech share the same pathways in the brain (and how to use that to your advantage!)
🗣️ How everyday conversations shape your child’s vocabulary (way more than structured lessons!)
🤲 The power of gestures—why pointing, clapping and waving can supercharge language development
💡 Easy, practical ways to help little ones absorb language and music naturally—without extra effort!

If you’re a parent, educator or just someone fascinated by how children learn, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. 

Grab your drink of choice and let’s get into it! 🎧✨

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Further reading and references: 

1. Kuhl, P. K. (2004). Early language acquisition: Cracking the speech code. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 5(11), 831-843.
2. Brandt, A., Gebrian, M., & Slevc, L. R. (2012). Music and early language acquisition. Frontiers in Psychology, 3, 327.
3. Iverson, J. M., & Goldin-Meadow, S. (2005). Gesture paves the way for language development. Psychological Science, 16(5), 367-371.
4. Weisleder, A., & Fernald, A. (2013). Talking to children matters: Early language experience strengthens processing and vocabulary development. Psychological Science, 24(11), 2143-2152.
5. Harvard University, Center on the Developing Child. (n.d.). Serve and Return Interaction Shapes Brain Architecture. Retrieved from developingchild.harvard.edu.