Kids and Mozart is a good mix, but don’t expect miracles

Two centuries after his death, Mozart finally hit the big time in the 1990s. With parents, anyway.

In the early 90s, a study showed that kids who listened to Mozart had better spatial abilities than kids who didn’t.

Spatial ability involves aptitude for analyzing and comprehending, which plays into recognition of patterns and critical problem solving.

In short, advanced spatial ability equals smarts.

So for years, parents, day-care centers, pediatricians, etc., have been pumping Don Giovanni and other Mozart favorites into little ears, certain the little brains were eating it up and getting sharper.

Turns out they weren’t.

Psychologists from the University of Vienna reviewed dozens of studies that addressed the Mozart/spatial ability question. Their conclusion: Kids might learn to love (or maybe hate) classical music, but if they bring home straight As, it won’t be because of the maestro.

If you want to make kids smarter, minimize their intake of sugar and highly processed foods. Then maximize their intake of nutrients that we KNOW support cognitive function–vitamins D and B-12, and omega-3 fatty acids for starters.

Then you can put on some tunes–Mozart, Motown, whatever you like–and dance around with your brainy kids.

Source:
“Listening to Mozart Won’t Make Your Child Smarter” Randy Dotinga, HealthDay News, 5/14/10, healthday.com