Recent surveys point out that there are big gaps between parents' efforts to teach good values to their children and their perceived success in doing so. A nationwide survey of parents conducted by Public Agenda, a nonpartisan think tank, found that:
• 61% of parents rate their generation as "fair" or "poor" at raising children
• 53% of parents believe they are doing a worse job than their own parents did
• 83% said it is "absolutely essential" to teach self-control and self-discipline, but only 34% said they have succeeded in teaching those values
• 91% said it is essential to teach honesty, but only 55% said they have succeeded in doing so.
Parents of young school children are searching in vain for fun and effective tools to teach their kids how to share, take responsibility, think positively and handle their fears in these uncertain times…
As a child psychologist, I have worked for 32 years developing ways to help children feel better about themselves and get along with others. These important early lessons, now known to actually sculpt the brain's circuitry, can and should be taught both at home and in the classroom. Why not package them into a program that's both educational and highly entertaining. This has all culminated in a comprehensive program, A Pocket of Tunes. It consists of:
• A CD with 14 catchy, engaging, full-production songs produced in a variety of musical styles.
• Song lyrics to enlarge and display in the classroom, or duplicate and distribute to individual children.
• Interactive coloring pages that help children understand the songs’ messages.
• Key concepts that provide a quick reference list of character traits reinforced in each song.
• Literature connections that conveniently refer to other sources that expand on the lessons.
• Activities that use a combination of auditory, visual and kinesthetic means for children to apply these important concepts to their lives. They will practice listening, create a friendship book, dress up for "Manners Day," perform for Talent Night, and much more!
As far as school applications are concerned, Mark Twain once said, "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." The latest trend is for legislators and school officials to focus on academics through testing and drill. However, studies show that even when time is taken away from the traditional "Three R's" for programs to help children with their social and emotional concerns, academic scores improve. I love to use the analogy of RAM with computer memory. When children are preoccupied, they have far less "memory" or attention available for learning. Quite simply, happy kids learn better!
Social-emotional development and academic achievement are not separate priorities, but should be understood as representing the continuum of development that is needed for children to grow up healthy and succeed in school. Children entering school who are not socially and emotionally prepared are at high risk for early school problems, poor later school performance and difficulties in the workplace in their adult lives.
The typical concept of readiness for kindergarten has usually been thought of in terms of cognitive learning, such as numbers, colors and the alphabet. But before children can learn to read, they must learn basic social and emotional skills – such as the ability to tolerate frustration without “melting down” or acting aggressively, and the ability to be attentive and follow directions. Kindergarten teachers have reported that the single greatest challenge they face is that a majority of the children lack some or all of the needed social and emotional competencies needed to learn.
Music is magical as a medium for teaching these concepts. Most of us have experienced its profound and long-lasting effects for learning and retaining information. We can still remember the words and meanings of songs we haven't heard for years. Most importantly, once we've heard a song a number of times, we begin to carry it close to our hearts and can "pull it out of our pocket" as needed. Children can find a wealth of knowledge and understanding to draw from.
Finally, I believe traditional children's music often underestimates children's intelligence and abilities. Sometimes it seems as if producers are thinking, "Let's cut corners, it's just kids' music. They can't tell the difference." Well, children can tell the difference, and they deserve better! The best tribute I have received is how the songs in A Pocket of Tunes tend to grow on folks of all ages.