Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/the-soundscape-of-early-childhood/5024346/
“Listening is an ethical
and aesthetic attitude.”
— Loris Malaguzzi
I first began thinking about sound when I was a young child. I am noise sensitive and did not like school. The cafeteria and hallways were painfully noisy places, but I loved my first-grade teacher’s voice. I recall watching her lips move and soaking in her warm voice without paying attention to a thing she was saying. It was the tone of her voice that anchored me and made me feel safe in a big public school. I still have a hard time being in crowded noisy places, so as a teacher of young children, I have learned to adapt—and with an awareness of sound, I have thought a great deal about how to create pleasant soundscapes for young children.
Julian Treasure is the author of Sound Business. In his TED Talk he describes the four ways sound affects us:
Physiologically—Sound impacts our breathing, heart rate, and our brain waves. Noise pollution can lead to high blood pressure and loud noises raise stress levels.
Psychologically—Sounds (especially music) can alter our mood. Natural sound, like bird song, is relaxing and reassuring. Loud jarring sounds can cause anger and depression.
Cognitively—Sounds can promote ...