Children will often learn a song faster and better if their listening is directed. Directed listening can also be called active or focused listening. This is a technique that can be adapted so well to any age and any song.
A music leader can facilitate directed listening by asking a specific question right before the children listen to a song, sing a phrase, or sing the whole song.
Discuss the answers after, and rinse repeat!
Here are some sample questions for the song CSB #71 To Think About Jesus:
- WHAT shouldn't be hard? — ANSWER: “To sit very still”
- WHO does this child think about? — ANSWER: “To think about Jesus”
- HOW many times do you sing the word, “Sit?” — ANSWER: 2
- HOW many times do you sing the word, “Think?” — ANSWER: 2
- WHERE was His cross? — ANSWER: “On the hill”
- WHAT did He do? — ANSWER: “He suffered for us”
