Research
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Dr. Mac
Family Therapy Institute
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Studies point to the importance of teaching social and emotional skills.
Kids today are experiencing levels of stress like never before, and what they see and hear is forming new connections in their rapidly growing brains. Hundreds of studies point to the importance of teaching social and emotional skills, and Happy Kids Songs help children to learn them in a positive and meaningful way.
Music lights up a variety of brain centers promoting positive feelings.
Brain researchers note that songs “tickle” the brain in a highly pleasurable way, releasing endorphins that provide feelings of happiness and energy. Most people can remember the words and meanings of songs they haven’t heard for years, perhaps because music lights up a variety of brain centers, including language, hearing, and rhythmic motor control.
All cultures embrace music.
Anthropologists point out that all cultures embrace music in a variety of forms, and it’s the only thing that, worldwide, people spend more on than prescription drugs! Listening to songs is a fun way to “make the medicine go down,” and kids welcome tools to better handle their feelings, relationships, and practice positive thinking.
“I listened to your songs with my grandchildren, and we loved them…”
–Daniel Goleman, Ph.D. author, Emotional Intelligence
An effective means of enhancing learning and retention.
Happy Kids Songs have been shown to be an effective means of enhancing learning and retention. Research specific to their use in the Santa Barbara Public Schools has shown that:
- Children make significant improvements in behaviors such as being helpful, staying on task, and understanding and using the Golden Rule.
- They learn new skills to better approach their peers and gain more effective tools for dealing with teasing and bullying.
- Kids are better able to resolve conflicts with others by learning to talk things out.
- Lessons about feelings give kids the words to use when sad, mad or frustrated.
- As kids develop a more positive attitude and self-confidence, they also are far more likely to encourage others to do their best.
- Parents were enthusiastic, reporting that the songs prompted meaningful and helpful family discussions.