Why I Sing More Than I Speak When Working With Children

Have you ever noticed how differently children respond when something is sung instead of spoken?

As a Registered Music Therapist, I see this all the time in classrooms, therapy sessions, and group programs.

I have walked into busy, loud kindy rooms and watched the entire energy shift the moment I begin singing: “Find a seat on the floor…”

Children pause. They look up. They move together.

It is not about being a “good singer.” It is about how music naturally supports children’s nervous systems, attention, and engagement.

Music gives children something steady to hold onto.

Rhythm and repetition help children know what is coming next, which can make transitions feel safer and smoother without lots of pressure or repeated instructions.

This is one of the reasons music can be such a powerful tool for supporting:

• connection

• communication

• regulation

• attention and engagement

• playful interaction

And when children begin getting wriggly on the mat?

That is often when movement songs become magic.

Songs like:

Shake Your Sillies Out

Hokey Pokey

Happy and You Know It

Bears Now Asleep

Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes

...invite children to move, laugh, follow directions, regulate their bodies, and participate together through play.

When I run groups with children, I rarely rely on lots of spoken instructions.

I sing almost everything.

Because music naturally invites participation in a way that often feels easier, safer, and more engaging for children.

The best part is that this does not only happen in therapy rooms or classrooms.

Simple musical moments at home, during transitions, play, tidy up time, bath time, or getting ready for bed, can also support connection and regulation in everyday life.

And it does not need to be perfect.

Your voice, your presence, and the shared experience are what matter most!

If you would like some simple ways to start using music intentionally with your child, you can download my free guide:3 Ways to Use Music to Support Connection, Communication & Regulation.

Music Therapy on the Sunshine Coast available NOW