Music listening and young children's mood and behavior: The parents as home DJs study.

Using an experience sampling method (ESM), this study examined how parents incorporated music listening into daily routines and its perceived effects on children's mood and behavior. Parents (N = 562; 98% mothers; 79% White; 96% affiliated with an early childhood music program) of children aged 0-5 years completed a sign-up survey and a 7-day ESM protocol in 2021. Music listening was ubiquitous in family life, often used for entertainment and emotion regulation. In over 75% of episodes, parents reported noticeable-mostly positive-changes in their children. Mixed-effects models showed stronger effects when children liked the music and it was less familiar as well as when the children were already demonstrating active behavior and the music was more energetic and pleasant.