Letter Erase

Choose a word of the month. Every Sunday write the word on the board. If the kids are getting out of hand erase a letter. If the whole word gets erased you stop the game/activity and just sing.



*This idea came from the LDS Primary Choristers Facebook Group

Sing, Not Scream

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We want our kids to sing to the best of their ability, but sometimes they get a little out of hand. I often have to remind my kids to sing reverently with this simple line; "Please remember to sing!, not scream!".

Behavior Shape Shift

Have 4 of an item on one side of the board (4 paper circles or something). I'd even have them in color order; 1) green, 2) yellow, 3) orange, 4) red; but that's just me.

Explain to the children that when they are on this side of the board that means we're doing good. But when a shape gets shifted to the other side of the board that means that we're not being as reverent as we could be and they need to try harder. Let them know that if all the circles (or whatever shapes you cut out) get moved to the other side then singing time is done.

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*Idea from Shelly B Ramirez on the LDS Choristers FB Group

Brain Break! Cross The Midline

Crossing the midline means that one side of the body moves to the opposite side of the body to do work over there. The physical cross also causing a cross in the brain.

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To apply this to Primary Music Time, the idea of this is that sometimes you need a "brain break" to get your brain ready for learning (or, in the middle of a lesson, to realign your brain so it can get back to learning). It's basically some simple movements that cross the midline of your body and therefore, also the midline your brain. It's a repeated exercise where one hand touches something on the other side of the body - then the other hand does the same thing on the other side of the body. One side, then the other, then repeat. IE: stand up, touch right foot with left hand, stand up, touch left foot with right hand. Repeat a few times.

SEE: Dr Jean's midline crossing brain exercises
SEE: info at KidsFirst

Listening Ears

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I often remind the children to "turn on your listening ears". If I see their attention is elsewhere I'll say, "Oh ladies and gentlemen, it seems that our ears have gotten turned off. Can you please turn on your listening ears?". Then we will all give our ears a tweak to turn them on.  It's cute to watch the little ones "turn on" their listening ears.

It works in JR Primary. Sr Primary thinks it's silly - it doesn't work as well with the older kids - but sometimes I forget who I'm talking to and say it anyway and am met with eye rolls. Oh well.

"If You Can Hear Me...."

When the kid are getting rowdy say "If you can hear me, _________"....

Ideas for the blank are, touch your knees, wiggle your head, reach up high, stomp your feet, touch your nose. Repeat this with a few different actions. Talk in a normal voice. Do not raise your voice. Get quieter each time you speak, until you're whispering. Not everyone will do it right away. A few more will, then a few more, then a few more until you have everyone's attention. End on "If you can hear me, touch your elbows"- then you have them in a reverent position ready to listen.

Stand By Me

Never stand in one spot. If children are not being reverent while during singing time walk over to them and stand by them.


*Tip from my awesomely talented Mother-in-Law, Charlotte Stott Coleman who has been a Primary Chorister many times