Abstract
Self-regulation is arguably the most critical predictor of school readiness, academic achievement, and lifelong well-being. Large-scale longitudinal studies have shown that stronger self-regulation acts as a buffer against adverse development. It is therefore essential to identify effective strategies and interventions that focus on enhancing self-regulation in young children. In this chapter, we introduce a classroom intervention named Rhythm and Movement for Self-Regulation (RAMSR). Drawing on rhythmic movement activities, this innovative program has been proven effective in fostering emotional, behavioral, and cognitive self-regulation in preschool-aged children. The chapter is divided into seven sections. First, we define the notion of self-regulation, its various components, and justify its crucial role during early childhood education. Second, we describe the rationale and inspiration behind RAMSR, drawing from the experience of its designer. The third session provides a detailed overview of the structure and four lesson plans of RAMSR. In the fourth session, we briefly review studies focusing on the development, implementation, and evaluation of RAMSR, and describe how it has been tailored to Asian contexts. Our team in Hong Kong designed an online professional development (PD) course, with the RAMSR intervention materials translated into Chinese, and trained teachers from seven kindergartens, who implemented RAMSR as part of an experimental study. We conducted individual interviews with several teachers to gain insights into various aspects of children’s progress, including their reactions, development in self-regulation, and their overall learning and development. In the fifth section, we synthesize teachers’ perspectives on RAMSR as a music and movement resource and its impact on children. In the sixth section, we justify the reasons why RAMSR is particularly suitable in preschools across East and Southeast Asian countries and recommend preschool teachers implement it in their classrooms. Finally, the seventh section provides practical tips to allow partitioners to implement RAMSR.