The River Room Songbook Course

A gentle River Room Song toolkit for helping children understand, calm, and care for their feelings

Children today are facing more pressures, faster changes, and bigger emotions than ever before. Many don’t yet have the words to explain what they feel — and even fewer have been taught simple, safe ways to calm their bodies when life feels overwhelming. The River Room Songbook Course has been created to give children those tools in the most accessible way possible: through songs, movement, rhythm, and warm self-soothing exercises that make emotional learning feel natural, safe, and even fun.

Each lesson is built around a song that teaches one emotional skill at a time — calming the breath, naming feelings, soothing the body, shifting unhelpful thoughts, or knowing when to pause and protect your boundaries. These songs become little anchors children can return to at school, at home, or in moments when their emotions feel “too big.”

This course gently supports the nervous system, strengthens emotional resilience, and gives children the confidence to say, “I can handle this feeling.” It empowers them to recognise their experiences, nurture themselves with kindness, and build inner safety — which complements everything MBIMB stands for: empowerment, emotional awareness, body safety, and help-seeking.
You wil find the River Room Interactive Songbookook here

About the Authors
The River Room Songbook is a collaborative creation by Deborah J. Crozier of A Positive Start CIC and Chrissy Sykes, founder of the My Body Is My Body (MBIMB) Programme. Deborah is a Person-Centred Counsellor, Trauma-Informed Practitioner, and Global MBIMB Ambassador whose work is rooted in compassion, emotional regulation, and community wellbeing. Chrissy, an internationally recognised advocate for child safety through music, has spent over 35 years empowering children worldwide with the MBIMB Programme. Together, they bring their shared passion for healing, creativity, and child protection to The River Room Songbook — a gentle, imaginative resource designed to help children understand and express their feelings safely.

Song 1 — “I Am Special”

This song helps children build a positive inner voice. It reminds them that they are already enough — not because of what they achieve, but simply because they are themselves. Through affirmations and gentle reflection, children begin to replace unhelpful beliefs with kinder, stronger ones, helping them develop healthy self-worth.

Song 2 — “Breathe Like the Breeze”

Children learn how their breath can bring calm. When life feels tight or stressful, breathing slowly — like a soft breeze — helps the body release tension and return to balance. This lesson teaches simple breathing techniques that help children feel safe, steady, and clear-minded in moments of overwhelm.

Song 3 — “The Tapping Song”

Tapping gives children a hands-on way to calm big emotions. By tapping on specific points while thinking about how they feel, children learn to release tension, lower worry, and reconnect with their bodies. It’s a gentle “reset button” that helps emotions move instead of getting stuck.

Song 4 — “Heart and Tummy Hold”

This lesson teaches a soothing self-comfort technique — placing one hand on the heart and one on the tummy. It helps children feel grounded, cared for, and safe inside their bodies. This simple gesture becomes a bridge between emotions and comfort, especially when children feel sad, worried, or embarrassed.

Song 5 — “R.A.I.N”

RAIN (Recognise, Allow, Inquire, Nurture) gives children a mindful way to understand and work through emotions. Instead of pushing feelings away, children learn to recognise them, allow them to be there, explore them gently, and comfort themselves with kindness. This builds emotional intelligence and confidence.

Song 6 — “S.T.A.N.D”

STAND (Stop, Think, Act, Never Doubt) teaches children to pause before reacting, notice their feelings, and choose actions that protect their wellbeing. It’s especially helpful for children who “people-please” or stay quiet to keep the peace. STAND helps children trust their instincts and practise healthy boundaries.

The River Room Songbook Course offers more than songs —

It offers lifelong tools. Each lesson helps children understand their emotions, soothe their bodies, and build inner strength. These skills make classrooms calmer, home life easier, and children more confident in navigating their world.