The kids aren’t listening!

Here’s a download of content from our toolkit that helps support engagement and attention. For those moments when you feel like no one is listening, the kids look a bit bored, or you think, “they just aren’t engaging with me”. These reflective thoughts and feelings are present in my practice, too!

Using some ideas from attuned practice and engaging in communicative musicality always help me. Matching, reflecting and following the kids’ cues to engage their attention before I make any offerings is key.

I mention the word attention in the share below. There are many types of attention. And I want to stress that this content isn’t about having perfect kids, lined up in a row, doing what you ask. This is actually about engagement, interaction, and shared play that can support everybody’s needs.

It’s child-led play; however, I’ve found that in a group setting, you need some techniques to help you hold it all together so you’re not burnt out doing cartwheels and handstands just because they do!.

I’m a music therapist, offering group music therapy programs for children in their early years for almost 10 years now. These are the main learnings from my clinical practice and my research work that I keep in mind consistently.

Once you’ve learnt what works best - the tempo to play at, the sounds that do or don’t work, the type of play preferred, the toys or props, the space you’ll play in - you will find over time that you can pretty much meet everyone’s needs.

By sharing this content, I’m advocating for and supporting integrated, inclusive learning and play spaces. Especially because more and more are emerging, and everyone can benefit from some tips and techniques that work so that all the kids (and you) can learn, play and have fun together.

If you want to know more, or need some 1:1 time to talk through this, you can book a consult - a 15-minute chat. Just go to the top left of the page and enter your details there.

Best wishes,

Anita