Music and Movement in Daily EYFS Routines

Music and movement activities are a cornerstone of Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) education. They provide a unique way for children to explore the world, express themselves, and develop essential skills. Whether it’s a lively circle time song or a quiet moment of rhythmic clapping, music and movement enrich learning in ways that traditional teaching methods cannot always achieve. This article explores the benefits of music and movement, how to integrate these activities seamlessly into your daily routine, and how to make them inclusive for all children.

The Power of Music in Early Years Learning

Music engages multiple areas of the brain simultaneously, making it an incredibly effective learning tool. For EYFS children, whose brains are developing rapidly, music can:

• Enhance memory: Songs with repetitive lyrics and catchy melodies help children retain information, such as days of the week or numbers.
• Support language development: Singing encourages children to practice articulation, vocabulary, and rhythm, which are all crucial for early literacy skills.
• Emotional regulation: Calming melodies or rhythmic drumming can help children manage emotions and develop self-regulation strategies.

For example, a simple activity like singing the alphabet song combines melody and rhythm to make letter learning fun and memorable. Similarly, a goodbye song at the end of the day can provide a comforting routine, helping children transition smoothly.

Movement: The Key to Active Learning

Young children are natural movers. Incorporating physical movement into daily routines not only helps them stay engaged but also supports gross motor skill development, coordination, and spatial awareness. Activities like action songs, guided dance, and imaginative movement games encourage children to explore their bodies while connecting physical actions to concepts like speed, direction, and rhythm.

For instance, a game of “Musical Statues” blends music and movement to teach listening skills and impulse control. Children must freeze when the music stops, promoting body awareness and concentration in a playful setting.

Integrating Music and Movement Into EYFS Routines

1. Circle Time Songs

Circle time is a natural opportunity to incorporate music and movement. Start the day with a familiar song, such as Good Morning to You, to create a sense of community and routine. Use interactive songs like If You’re Happy and You Know It to encourage participation and develop listening skills.

Tips for Success:

• Use props like scarves or instruments to make songs more engaging.
• Encourage children to take turns suggesting actions for movement songs, developing leadership and creativity.

2. Transition Activities

Transitions can be challenging for young children. Music can help make them smoother and less stressful. For example:

• Sing a “tidy-up song” to signal that it’s time to clean up.
• Use a rhythmic clapping pattern to gather attention before lining up.
• Play calming instrumental music during snack time to create a peaceful atmosphere.

Through embedding music into transitions, children learn to associate songs with specific actions, making routines more predictable and manageable.

3. Themed Lessons and Play

Music and movement can bring classroom themes to life. Studying animals? Use songs like Old MacDonald Had a Farm, paired with movements imitating animal actions. Exploring space? Create a dance or just movements where children pretend to be floating astronauts or spinning planets.

These activities tie music and movement to the curriculum, reinforcing topic-specific vocabulary and concepts in an engaging way.

Celebrating Cultural Diversity Through Music

Music offers an excellent opportunity to introduce children to diverse cultures. Incorporate songs, dances, and rhythms from around the world to foster inclusivity and broaden children’s horizons. For example:

• Teach a simple African drum rhythm to explore patterns and beat.
• Introduce a traditional Chinese New Year song and movements using ribbon props.
• Share folk dances from different countries, encouraging children to learn about traditions while moving their bodies.

When choosing culturally diverse songs, ensure they are respectful and accurate. Partner with families or community members to share authentic music and stories, deepening children’s connection to the activities.

Making Music and Movement Accessible

Inclusion is a vital aspect of EYFS education. Here’s how to adapt music and movement activities for children with different needs:

• For children with limited mobility: Focus on upper-body movements like clapping, waving scarves, or playing handheld percussion instruments. Songs like The Wheels on the Bus can be adapted for seated participation.
• For children with sensory sensitivities: Offer noise-cancelling headphones and choose softer instruments, like a rainstick or wooden claves. Calming activities like slow, rhythmic drumming can also help children regulate sensory input.
• For non-verbal children: Use actions and visuals to guide participation. AAC devices or communication boards can allow them to suggest movements or express preferences.

Inclusive practices ensure that every child can experience the joy of music and movement, regardless of their abilities.

15 Creative Music and Movement Activities for EYFS Development

Original Favorites:

1. Dance Like an Animal – Enhanced by adding sound effects and incorporating less common animals like sloths (slow movements) or jellyfish (fluid movements)
2. Parachute Songs – Now with colour-coded movements where children respond to different coloured scarves or lights
3. Drum Circle Fun – Expanded to include body percussion and environmental sounds
4. Freeze Dance – Updated with emotion expressions when freezing (“freeze like you’re surprised!”)
5. Rhythm Train – Modified to include different speeds and “terrain” changes
6. Weather Orchestra
   Children create weather soundscapes using bodies and simple instruments. Following a visual weather chart, they might tap fingers for rain, blow for wind, or stomp for thunder.
7. Musical Shadow Puppets
   Children create shadow movements to different music styles using a sheet and lamp, combining visual art with movement.
8. Sound Garden
   Set up outdoor musical stations with hanging chimes, water xylophones (bottles filled with different water levels), and natural percussion items like sticks and stones.
9. Movement Story Cubes
   Use large foam dice with different movements, speeds, or dance styles on each side. Children roll and combine movements to create dance sequences.
10. Echo Body Percussion
    The leader creates patterns using claps, stamps, and pats, incorporating counting and mathematical patterns while children echo back.
11. Musical Obstacle Course
    Set up stations where children must move differently according to the instrument they hear – crawling for drums, tiptoeing for triangles, jumping for tambourines.
12. Emotion Music Painting
    Children listen to different music styles and move ribbons or scarves to “paint” in the air how the music makes them feel, combining emotional literacy with movement.
13. Musical Building Blocks
    Children build towers or structures in time with music, adjusting their movements to match the tempo – quick building for fast songs, slow motion for lullabies.
14. Sound Hunt Adventure
    Children move through space following different sound cues, like a musical treasure hunt. Each sound indicates a different movement style or challenge.
15. Rhythm Cooking
    Pretend to cook while creating rhythms with kitchen tools, combining dramatic play with music. Different “recipes” require different rhythm patterns.

Implementation Tips:

• Use visual aids and picture cards for non-verbal children
• Incorporate sensory elements like textured instruments or scented movement scarves
• Include adaptive movements for different ability levels
• Connect activities to current learning themes
• Document children’s responses for assessment
• Allow child-led variations to emerge naturally

Remember to:

• Keep instructions simple and clear
• Use visual demonstrations
• Celebrate individual interpretations
• Allow for repetition and practice
• Include cool-down activities
• Make modifications based on group energy levels
• Document unique responses for planning future activities

Observing the Impact of Music and Movement

Regularly assess how children respond to music and movement activities. Observe:

• Engagement levels: Are children participating actively? Do they show enthusiasm?
• Skill development: Are they improving coordination, rhythm, or language skills?
• Emotional responses: Are they calmer, more focused, or more expressive during or after activities?

These observations can inform future planning, ensuring your music and movement activities meet the developmental needs of your group.

Assessment Opportunities:

• Gross motor development
• Listening and attention skills
• Social interaction and turn-taking
• Creative expression
• Pattern recognition
• Emotional regulation through movement
• Sequential thinking
• Spatial awareness

Final Thoughts: A Teacher’s Perspective

After 15 years in EYFS classrooms, I can tell you this with absolute certainty: nothing lights up a room quite like music and movement. I’ll never forget the day shy little Marcus, who barely spoke a word, suddenly came alive during our ‘Weather Orchestra.’ There he was, conducting his friends with such confidence, making thunder with his feet and rain with his fingertips. These are the magical moments that remind us why we chose this profession. The beauty of these activities isn’t just in the laughter and engagement they create (though that’s wonderful!) – it’s in watching a child who struggles with coordination master a new movement, or seeing two children who never played together bond during a musical shadow puppet show. Every single day, I witness small miracles through these seemingly simple activities.

To my fellow early years teachers: don’t worry about getting it perfect. Start small, perhaps with just one new activity a week. Let the children guide you – their natural creativity will often take these activities in surprising and delightful directions. Some of my best teaching ideas came from following their lead!

Remember, we’re not just teaching songs and dances; we’re building confidence, nurturing creativity, and creating memories that might last a lifetime. So tomorrow morning, when you’re setting up your classroom, put on that favourite tune, grab those scarves or shakers, and watch the magic unfold. Trust me – your classroom will never be quite the same again. And to those moments when things don’t go as planned (we’ve all had them!) – embrace them. Sometimes the best learning happens in the beautiful chaos of twenty toddlers interpreting “move like spaghetti” in twenty completely different ways!

Keep dancing, keep singing, and keep believing in the transformative power of music and movement in early years education. Your little ones will thank you for it – maybe not in words, but in beaming smiles and confident little steps forward.

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