SING.PLAY.LOVE. Supporting Early Language and Parent-Child Relationships with Music and Play by Anne Meeker Watson, PhD

How can music and play become your most powerful tools for supporting early learning and building strong, connected relationships with young children?

Join Anne Meeker Watson, PhD, MT-BC, nationally recognized music therapist, early interventionist, and founder of the SING.PLAY.LOVE.® program, for an engaging and inspiring session on how to use joyful, developmentally-rich musical experiences to nurture both brains and hearts. With decades of experience working alongside families and educators, Dr. Meeker Watson shares her proven approach to weaving songs, movement, playful rituals, and family engagement into daily routines to support early language development, social-emotional growth, and strong parent-child bonds.

This session will introduce participants to catchy, easy-to-learn songs that promote communication and emotional regulation, along with practical ways to embed music and play throughout classroom and home environments. Dr. Meeker Watson will also offer creative ideas for bridging the gap between early childhood programs and families, helping caregivers continue the learning (and the fun!) at home—while reducing screen time and increasing face-to-face connection.

Whether you’re a teacher, caregiver, therapist, or parent, you’ll leave this session energized and equipped with meaningful strategies you can start using right away.

In this joyful and practical session, you will:

1. Learn three simple, developmentally appropriate songs with motor actions that adults can use with young children through face-to-face engagement.

2. Describe a plan for intentionally supporting attachment, regulation, and joy through songs, picture books, play-based activities, and modeling across the routines and environments of a child’s day.

3. Explore resources and strategies to help redirect screen time and instead foster deeper parent-child connections through music, movement, and interactive play.