This month we asked our Sing&Grow team of Clinical Music Therapists to provide some ways in which music can be woven into our monthly theme of Imaginative Play. Thanks to Lisa & Emily who are based in Meanjin/Magandjin for these ideas.
It’s amazing how creative children can be. Both music and imaginative play stimulate brain growth and enhance children’s cognitive skills such as thinking, problems-solving, memory and attention. We also know that when music is incorporated into a children’s imaginative play experiences it serves to further encourage children to explore new ideas and concepts, enhancing their creativity and innovative thinking.
Children are always learning from the world around them so by spending time purposefully connecting with your child you can help them develop emotional regulation, social skills and creative play skills.
So how can we use music to support your child’s imaginative play skills? Here are some simple songs to try at home that encourage you and your child to be creative and think outside the box.
Row Row Row Your Boat
This children’s classic song can be used in many creative ways to foster your child’s imagination. Sing through the song together and let your child choose the animal and sound whilst doing the rowing actions. You and your child can experiment together, maybe you’re travelling down the stream in the jungle, you could get out your binoculars and search for what animal you can spot next. Hop back in your boat, this time you could try sailing into the sea and look for ocean animals through your binoculars. If your child has a favourite soft toy, they can join you in your boat journey and try the movements for rough waves and gentle waves.
Old Macdonald
Another classic children’s song that can be used for imaginative play. While singing the song you can encourage your little one to imagine what animal they might see and make the sound or even move like the animal, you can also play around with the imagined location e.g., farm, zoo, park or even ocean.
If You're Happy And You Know It
This song encourages imagination but also emotion recognition and allows children to practice what they might do when feeling different emotions. For example, when singing the song the child can imagine what it feels like to be excited and what they might be doing when they feel this way.
Simple Tips for Using Music at Home to Support Imaginative Play
How Music Can Be Used To Connect
Music provides many great opportunities for you to connect with your children, weather through dancing together, music making, singing, playing games or even having some quiet time to cuddle and rest.
By adding music and imaginative play into your day not only are you connecting with your child but it also gives you insight into how they might see the world and create lasting memories together.
Ways to Add Music Into Your Day to Foster Connection
Resources/references:
• Let’s Sing&Grow, Spotify Australia, 2025 Sing&Grow Australia | Spotify
• Nicholson, J.M., Berthelsen, D., Abad, V., Williams, K. & Bradley, J. (2008).
Impact of music therapy to promote positive parenting and child development. Journal of Health Psychology, 13 (2), 226-238.