Interactive Music Software: The Impact on the Socioemotional and Cognitive Development of Chinese Preschool Children

This study investigated the impact of the interactive music application Piano Kids – Music & Songs on the socioemotional and cognitive development of Chinese preschool children. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 120 children aged 3–4 years, who were divided into an experimental group and a control group. Over a six-month period, children in the experimental group used the application three times per week for 30-minute sessions. Data were collected using the Preschool Development Assessment Scale (PDAS) and the Chinese Inventory of Children’s Socioemotional Competence (CICSEC) before and after the experimental period. Paired t-tests and independent t-tests were employed to analyze within-group and between-group differences. The results revealed significant improvements in the experimental group, with an average increase of 8.6 points in cognitive scores and over 22 points in socioemotional scores. The control group exhibited minimal changes. These findings support the efficacy of music applications in fostering early childhood development.