G8 introduces rhythm movement program to support children’s self regulation

Freya Lucas

Nov 03, 2022

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G8 Education has introduced an evidence-based rhythm and movement program to its early childhood teachers (ECTs) via a partnership with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

The professional development partnership between G8 Education and QUT’s world-first Rhythm and Movement for Self-Regulation (RAMSR) program will see more than 600 ECTs from across Australia trained to deliver elements of the RAMSR program – enabling them to support thousands of children to improve their self-regulation in their learning environments.

Self-regulation includes the important skills of regulating attention and emotion, working memory, ability to shift attention between information and tasks, impulse control and concentration which all affect learning and social development.

RAMSR sees children perform complex, coordinated movements to specially developed music tracks to help support the development of their attentional and emotional skills. “Research has established that musicians have more connected and efficient brains and that group music experiences contribute to social cohesion,” said RAMSR program developer Associate Professor Kate Williams. “Our research showed greater teacher-reported self-regulation skills in the RAMSR children across the kindergarten year than those of the control groups.” The program includes some “brain tricks” to practice impulse control, such as asking children to be still even when music is playing- the brain’s ‘air traffic control system’ has to kick in to restrain the natural impulse to move, Associate Professor Williams explained. Throughout the program, G8’s ECTs will be equipped with practical skills and resources to be able to implement the basics of RAMSR into their learning environments immediately. RAMSR is travelling the country with the G8 Education team for its inaugural Early Childhood Teacher Roadshow, which will see ECTs collaborate with sector-leading researchers and professionals such as RAMSR.

“I think what is special about the RAMSR program is we know what incredible benefits it has for children, but it also supports educator and teacher wellbeing by promoting the importance of ‘play’ for adults,” shared Ali Evans, G8 Education Head of Education and Early Learning. To learn more about RAMSR, please see here. For more information about G8 Education, see here.

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