International Journal of Education and Research Vol. 4 No. 5 May 2016 53 MUSICAL ACTIVITIES AS A STIMULATING TOOL FOR EFFECTIVE EARLY YEARS EDUCATION OF A WHOLE CHILD BY AWOPETU ANNA, V. (Ph. D) Department of Early Childhood Care and Education College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria P.O.Box 1839, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria E-mail address: annawopetu@gmail.com GSM (+234)-(0)803-857-13-78 Abstract Early childhood learning has been identified as an important element in the puzzle of human development. Early childhood institutions in Nigeria traditionally have two extremes in care and learning approaches: “care-only” oriented or settings that are school-oriented with subject-matter approach. In both cases something of central importance is overlooked: the individual child, with his or her own greatness, strengths and potentials, and most importantly with his/her needs, not the needs of the adults. Music could be that stimulating tool providing positive results in early childhood development and learning. The aim of this paper is to discuss hidden potentials of musical activities and their importance in early childhood education with the emphasis on holistic approach in early childhood education. The study provides some evidences of the benefits of using music not only for entertainment and relaxation purposes but for a child’s early learning, especially in the areas of development of language, mathematical and social skills. The study will contribute new knowledge to the under-researched area of early childhood education in Nigeria. Keywords: Early childhood, early learning, holistic approach, musical activities, mathematical and communication skills, Nigeria.