By Ava Parnass

I have been a child/ family therapist for close to twenty years. I worked at New York Hospital, Cornell University and  graduated from Columbia University. For many years, I  kept my career in therapy separate from my passion for song writing. Not long ago, I began combining my child therapy skills and song writing talent to result in products that enhance children’s social emotional skills and understanding of themselves.

Research shows that children learn many different ways; whether it is through play, active play, imaginative play, play with their grown-ups, reading, books, songs, etc. and this research shows that music and arts can make a child smarter.

Another way that children learn is through singing.

I had the  idea to combine child psychotherapy, songs and dancing to create products that were  both active (obesity epidemic) and allowed for social-emotional development. I created songs that parents and kids could have fun dancing to while learning the words as well as learning from the song what they are feeling. Overall they are playing and learning and moving at the same time while interacting with their grownups.

By writing a social-emotional song, I discovered that playing these songs in preschools allowed for all aspects of learning to take place. These children are now not only active but also they are singing and connecting their brain to what they are feeling through expression of those feelings and having fun!

Another reason for social-emotional songs was because the media including (Twitter, Facebook) is “screaming” at parents from all different directions: “Do this! Do that with your kids!” I saw a need to impact all of these different areas in a fun, interactive way while still allowing children to express themselves to their parents and teachers.

Obesity and psychiatric numbers are going up and I knew that parents and teachers needed help with “one top shopping” for children and their feelings. As a therapist, it is still not always easy to understand and work with children’s feelings – just imagine how parents must feel. Parenting is rewarding yet hard. Everyone means well and is working hard toward the same common goal – healthy, happy kids.

I felt that utilizing creativity, pictures, words and songs would be a great help in exploring these more difficult areas. The songs and books help preschoolers deal with their feelings.  It is also very important that teachers and parents don’t just use already-created  products – why not create their own songs that they feel would best serve their children’s needs?

I created my products from my own experiences with children. I believe  parents/teachers can do the same.

Singing ability is not needed – just the inspiration and creativity. Children have so many concerns like: “I wonder if my parents are ever going to come back!” when they leave. They miss their grown-ups while at school even though the kids seem to be doing fine in school. I just interviewed a group of nine year olds and they ALL said that they missed their grownups during the day so you can only imagine what’s going on in a preschoolers mind, even though it looks like they are managing. Talking about these things does not make it worse but actually makes the kids feel better and reminds them that they will see their grownups again.

I made up songs with my kids after they were born such as “Bye, Bye Garbage” or “I hate to say goodbye”,” I love to say Hello, hello hello” etc. You can make up ditties about anything and it really helps kids learn. Kids who grow up hearing music, singing songs and moving to the beat, are what experts call “in an enriched sensory environment.” They are exposed to many ways of learning and you are building more nuero-pathways between the cells and the brain.

Children are growing and learning and we want to increase this capacity. Research also shows that kids who are actively involved in music and songs (either when they play it or sing it regularly) do better in math when they start school and are able to focus and control their bodies more effectively. They are also able to play better with others and have higher self-esteem.

These are all great reasons to include songs, dancing and singing in a preschoolers environment.

Music is a great way to learn as is reading and playing. There are many ways to teach kids but they should all be fun.

About Ava:

Ava Parnass, a.k.a. “The Kid Whisperer,” is an author, songwriter and child therapist who specializes in marrying entertainment and social-emotional literacy for kids. Ms. Parnass helps kids figure out how they feel through playing, talking, listening, reading, singing and dancing.  Her multi-media materials, books and songs encourage parents and kids to read and sing along, in the process learning how awareness of  feelings (“the power of feelings”) improves emotional problems and behavioral issues. Parenting is a hard job and the books and songs really help kids and parents put a finger on what is bugging them and…helps to change it!