Music and movement are fundamental to holistic early childhood development, connecting to core learning outcomes in the Early Years Learning Framework

OUTCOME 1: CHILDREN HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF IDENTITY

Music activities help children build a sense of belonging, confidence, and self-assurance.

• 1.1 - Children feel safe, secure and supported

• Sensing and responding to a feeling of belonging (1.1.3)

• 1.2 - Children develop their emerging autonomy, inter-dependence, resilience and agency

• Showing interest and curiosity through observing, listening, selecting, and making choices (1.2.2)

• Approaching new, safe situations with interest and confidence (1.2.9)

OUTCOME 3: CHILDREN HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF WELLBEING

Rhythm and movement support emotional regulation, social skills, and the development of essential motor skills.

• 3.1 - Children become strong in their social, emotional and mental wellbeing

• Sharing humour, happiness, and feelings of satisfaction (3.1.5, 3.1.17)

• Showing an increasing capacity to understand, self-regulate, and manage their emotions (3.1.11)

• 3.2 - Children become strong in their physical learning and wellbeing

• Combining gross and fine motor movement and balance, including creative movement and dance (3.2.3)

• Demonstrating spatial awareness through movement (3.2.6)

• Responding through movement to music, dance, and storytelling (3.2.8)

• Moving to the tempo and rhythm of music (3.2.9)

• Participating in physical play, dance, and drama (3.2.10)

OUTCOME 4: CHILDREN ARE CONFIDENT AND INVOLVED LEARNERS

Music fosters key learning dispositions, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and persistent engagement.

• 4.1 - Children develop a growth mindset and learning dispositions such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity

• Being curious and enthusiastic participants in their learning (4.1.2)

• Following and extending their own interests with enthusiasm, energy, and concentration (4.1.5)

• Engaging in creative experiences such as art, dance, and drama (4.1.13)

OUTCOME 5: CHILDREN ARE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS

Musical experiences enhance verbal and non-verbal language skills, listening, and expression across various media.

• 5.1 - Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes

• Engaging in enjoyable interactions using verbal and non-verbal language (5.1.1)

• Responding verbally and non-verbally to sensory input (5.1.3)

• Using language and representations from play, music, and art to share and project meaning (5.1.4)

• 5.2 - Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these texts

• Listening and responding to sounds and patterns in speech, stories, and rhymes (5.2.1)

• Singing and chanting rhymes, jingles, and songs (5.2.3)

• 5.3 - Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media

• Using language, sounds, gestures, and movement to engage in play and create roles or ideas (5.3.1)

• Using materials to create art works (e.g., drawing, painting, sculpture, drama, dance, movement, music and storytelling) to express ideas and make meaning (5.3.3) all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.