Effects of Music and Storytelling on Linguistic, Socioemotional, and Adaptive Development in Children Aged 12-36 Months: an Intervention Protocol in Municipal Early Childhood Centers

This study aims to evaluate the impact of an enriched intervention program on early childhood development, emphasizing the role of parental involvement. Participants will be randomly assigned to two main groups: Control Group: Children will follow routine childcare activities, including artistic and educational engagements (e.g., drawing, painting, storytelling). Intervention Group: Children in this group will participate in a structured program combining daily storytelling sessions and weekly musicalization activities. This group will be further divided into two subgroups: With Parental Guidance: Parents or guardians will attend bi-weekly guidance meetings to receive strategies for reinforcing the intervention at home. Without Parental Guidance: No parental meetings will be conducted; children will participate in the program independently. Intervention Activities: The intervention includes: Storytelling: Interactive, daily sessions (30 minutes/day) designed to foster creativity and imagination using visual and verbal methods. Musicalization: Interactive, twice-weekly sessions (40 minutes each) incorporating singing, rhythm games, and exploration of simple musical instruments to enhance motor and cognitive skills. Assessment Measures: The primary developmental domains-linguistic, socio-emotional, and adaptive behaviors-will be assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III). Secondary measures include parental adherence (in the guidance subgroup) and engagement levels during activities. This pilot study will provide foundational data to support the development of larger-scale, evidence-based interventions focused on enhancing early childhood developmental outcomes.