<p>What if the music we grow up around shapes more than just our memories?</p><p>In this reflective solo episode, Carla Ward explores the powerful role music plays in childhood development, emotional regulation, identity formation, and the environments we create for children. From Linda Ronstadt and Carole King to Cher, Madonna, and the Spice Girls, Carla reflects on the soundtrack of her own childhood and asks an important question:</p><p>What are children absorbing from the music around them today?</p><p>This episode dives into:</p><ul><li><p>music as part of the learning environment</p></li><li><p>emotional associations and memory</p></li><li><p>identity and self-expression</p></li><li><p>nervous system regulation</p></li><li><p>classroom atmosphere and intentionality</p></li><li><p>why music is far more than background noise</p></li></ul><p>Whether you are an educator, parent, or someone reflecting on your own childhood soundtrack, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about the songs shaping children’s worlds.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>RESEARCH &amp; REFERENCES</strong></p><p>Saarikallio, S., &amp; Erkkilä, J. — <em>The Role of Music in Adolescents’ Mood Regulation</em><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0305735607068889"><u> https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0305735607068889</u></a> </p><p><em>Effects of the Educational Use of Music on Children’s Emotional Development</em><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350545306_Effects_of_the_Educational_Use_of_Music_on_3-to_12-Year-Old_Children's_Emotional_Development_A_Systematic_Review"><u> https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350545306_Effects_of_the_Educational_Use_of_Music_on_3-to_12-Year-Old_Children&#39;s_Emotional_Development_A_Systematic_Review</u></a> </p><p>North, A. C., Hargreaves, D. J. — <em>Music and Adolescent Identity </em><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232523022_Musical_Preference_and_Taste_in_Childhood_and_Adolescence"><em>https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232523022_Musical_Preference_and_Taste_in_Childhood_and_Adolescence</em></a><em> </em></p><p>Janata, P. — <em>The Neural Architecture of Music-Evoked Autobiographical Memories</em><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2758676/"><u> https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2758676/</u></a> </p><p>Routledge, C. — Research on nostalgia and psychological connectedness<a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/nostalgia"><u> https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/nostalgia</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>SUBSCRIBE &amp; REVIEW</strong></p><p>If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>CONNECT WITH CARLA</strong></p><p><a href="https://carlatheece.com/latte-lounge-membership"><u>The ECE Latte Lounge</u></a></p><p><strong>Email Newsletter:</strong> ⁠⁠<a href="https://early-learning-foundations.kit.com/b0fcdc38a5"><u>Click Here⁠</u></a></p><p><strong>Website:</strong><a href="http://elfoundations.com"> </a><a href="http://carlatheece.com"><u>carlatheece.com</u></a></p><p><strong>Instagram:</strong> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carlatheece"><u>@carlatheece</u></a></p><p><br></p>