The Power Of Lullabies: A Legacy Across Generations

New Delhi: Long before mobile phones, video games, and gadgets entered our lives, love was expressed through lullabies. A lullaby, or cradle song, is a soothing song or piece of music sung or played for children to help them sleep. Lullabies carry more than just music; they hold memories, comfort children, connect them to culture, and support language development. The rhythm and melody of a lullaby help unlock a child's brain, as children learn best through joy and play.

Lullabies come in many different forms. Some are created in the mind, some are heard in films, some are traditional, and others are part of ongoing traditions passed down from childhood. There is an immense diversity of lullaby songs sung across India.

RJ Kisna emphasised the importance of lullabies in a child's life. He said,

"Musical tunes stay in a child's mind forever. Adults still remember the melodies they heard in their childhood. I also create spontaneous songs for my daughter to keep her engaged and away from mobile screens.”

Lullabies also help to build a strong bond between caregivers and children and support overall child development.

Lullaby singers highlighted that kids stop crying and feel better when they hear lullabies. It also calms the little minds and helps them sleep better.

One of the lullaby singers said,

“Lullabies are a part of our rich tradition, which we learned from our mothers and grandparents.”

A grandparent, while sharing her thoughts on the importance of lullabies, said,

"When I need to get some work done with my grandchild or if she's upset, I just sing some lullabies or share poems to make her happy."

A lullaby has the potential to uplift and calm a child's mood, creating a peaceful and joyful environment.

Professor Usha Goswami, Director of the Centre for Neuroscience in Education at the University of Cambridge, shared her insights, stating,

"Lullabies use rhythms vital for language learning; playful changes boost brain development by engaging rhythmic patterns, making learning fun and effective."

NDTV, in collaboration with the EkStep Foundation, proudly celebrates the tradition of lullabies. The most powerful and beautiful thing a caregiver can do is to sing lullabies for their children. A lullaby is not just a musical tune but also a bridge between generations; it is an expression of love that passes down values and traditions from one generation to another.

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