The Power of Pause: Using Music to Practice Impulse-Control
|
Hey Reader! Music is a powerful tool in the early childhood classroom, and one of its benefits is helping children develop self-regulation skills. Specifically, today, let’s talk about the benefits of songs that instruct children to “pause” or “stop”. These tunes give your students a fun, engaging way to practice impulse control (a skill they’ll need for a lifetime)! Think about classics like “Freeze Dance.” As the music plays, children move freely, but when the music stops, they must freeze in place. This simple game teaches kids to listen, follow directions, and control their bodies in response to external cues. Even when they don’t always follow the instructions to freeze, their ears are still listening for the STOP! (Hint: Sometimes, I hold the STOP/PAUSE a little longer or make it super-fast to re-engage some of the renegades!) Similarly, songs like “If You’re Happy and You Know It” offer natural pauses where children must wait before clapping, stomping, or shouting. What about “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”? This one reinforces this idea by incorporating moments of action and stillness. These playful pauses require children to stop mid-motion, strengthening their ability to regulate emotions and behaviors in a safe, low-pressure, really FUN way. Or even “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” when you sing it fast and then slow or mix up the order of the words? As you change the tempo, children must match their movement speed to the tempo of the song or, they have to pay really close attention when you mix up the order of the words! By intentionally incorporating music with start-and-stop elements into your daily routine, you’re not just keeping children engaged—you’re building the foundation for essential self-regulation skills – you’re wiring their brains for self-control! Who knew all this FUN actually helped with brain development?! What are your favorite stop-and-go songs? I’ve included a couple of links below to get you started. Walk, Walk, Walk and Stop – this one is really fun just before naptime! The Goldfish Song – this one is a lot of up and down for children! So silly and so fun!! HERE’s a Spotify playlist of lots of songs that help teach self-control!
Cheering you on this week! -Your ECCN team
week 1/3
Colossians 3:16 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” |
