Music & Emotion: 3 Ways to Help Your Child Improve Self-Awareness With Music
Music is more than just entertainment—it’s a powerful tool for emotional growth. For children, understanding their feelings and learning how to express them can be challenging, but music offers a fun, engaging way to build that self-awareness. From recognizing how different songs make them feel to using music as an outlet for big emotions, there are simple ways to incorporate music into your child’s emotional development. In this post, we’ll explore three effective strategies to help your child connect with their emotions and grow more self-aware through the power of music.
1. Use Music in Your Everyday Life
Music surrounds all of us in our daily routines, and it is helpful to mindfully introduce songs that will help your child naturally increase their self-awareness. One of our personal favorites to improve physical self awareness is I Like the Me I See by Culture Queen. This song encourages children to pay attention to different aspects of their physical appearance, such as their eyes, hair, and chin, and teaches that we are all different but unique. Try listening to this song in front of the mirror and help your child identify the differences they see between them and yourself.
2. Model Healthy Emotional Expression
Children learn by example, and as adults, we are their primary role models. Share your feelings with them, and discussing how you cope with challenges or navigate difficult situations. This not only helps children understand that emotions are a natural part of life but also provides them with effective strategies for managing their own feelings. There are so many songs that talk about emotions in simple terms, and one of our winners is I’m Always Me by Narwhals and Waterfalls. We love the message of this song as it emphasizes that people feel a wide variety of emotions, and that’s okay. Try dancing along to this song by stomping or flying around like a butterfly. This will show your children that you experience these emotions too, and help them increase the awareness of different emotions in their own body.
3. Teach Mindfulness and Self-Reflection:
Introducing mindfulness practices to children can significantly contribute to their emotional self-awareness. Simple activities like deep breathing, affirmations, or mindful coloring can help children tune into their emotions and thoughts. Encourage them to reflect on their experiences, asking questions like “How did that make you feel?” or “Why do you think you felt that way?” One song that we love teaches children to take deep breaths and to get a hug from someone when they need it. Bear Hug by Stephanie Leavell teaches children to give themself a bear hug, but try giving them a big hug whenever she sings it. This will strengthen your relationship with them and provide a good space where you can practice and model deep breathing during the second half of the song.
These are only a few songs in a large ocean of music, so we encourage you to keep exploring. Find songs that relate to your child’s individual experiences and utilize them to help your child communicate their needs. By using music, we can empower our children with the tools they need to navigate and communicate their emotions. Together, let’s create an environment that nurtures self-awareness, resilience through challenges, and joy in daily life.
