The Use of Music and Movement Activities in Lessening Children’s Problem Behaviors

The main purpose of this action research was to investigate if using music and movement activities would lessen the problem behaviors displayed by eleven (11) preschool students ages 4-5 years old in a private preschool in the Philippines. Problem behaviors are behaviors that are considered as disruptive or can cause harm to other children or may be a hindrance to their learning. The students were exposed to researcher-adapted music and movement activities for five (5) weeks based on observed target problem behaviors. Quantitative data were collected through the use of a researchermade checklist and qualitative data through observations. Paired t-test results determined that there was a significant difference in the decrease of children’s problem behaviors during free play when music and movement activities were implemented. This also has been confirmed by the observations with the children which also showed the improvement in their behaviors during free play – specifically for destroying, grabbing and not knowing when to share toys and materials. The data also showed the effectiveness of the intervention in lessening the problem behaviors in other learning periods aside from free play, validating the role of using music and movement activities in lessening children’s problem behaviors.