As a relief teacher and early childhood trainer, I’ve been visiting different early childhood centres around Melbourne and even beyond. And I’ve noticed something interesting.
In toddler rooms especially, there’s often loud, upbeat music playing in the background during outdoor play. At first, I didn’t think much of it. But after seeing it consistently across multiple settings, I had a moment of realisation.
First, many children are still waking up in the morning — they’re not ready for high-energy stimulation. More importantly, the state of play requires a sense of flow. Loud background music can be really distracting and can prevent children from becoming fully immersed in their play. It also makes it harder for them to hear each other and engage in meaningful social interaction.
Music is incredibly powerful. I believe it should be used intentionally. For example, it can be played during dance sessions or group movement activities led by the teacher. Background music should not be used just for the sake of it. It does not create the calm and focused atmosphere. Approaches like Reggio Emilia, Montessori, and Waldorf value this atmosphere so much.
Have you noticed how background music affects children’s play and focus in your setting?
