The Science Behind Count & Do
Repetition Through Singing Makes Memory Magical
Research-backed movement, repetition, and music help toddlers ages 0-4 build vocabulary, strengthen memory, and develop a lifelong love of learning. Review for yourself the research we have collected to help ensure Count & Do is more than just a book.
Movement Creates Stronger Brain Connections for Learning
When children move their bodies while learning, they’re not just burning energy—they’re building their brains. Research demonstrates that physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, which directly enhances focus, memory, and cognitive development.
What the Research Shows:
- A comprehensive systematic review of 54 studies with 29,460 schoolchildren found that learning through movement improves total time engaged in physical activity, motor skills, and academic performance (Petrigna et al., 2022).
- Movement builds neural connections that support reading, writing, and math skills while improving executive functioning—the brain’s ability to plan, focus, and organize (Project Play Therapy, 2025).
- Crossing midline activities (like running and reaching across the body) help with reading and writing fluency, while balance and core activities support classroom attention and posture (Project Play Therapy, 2025).
Repetition Through Singing Makes Memory Magical
Children naturally love repetition—and for good reason. Repetition strengthens neural pathways, turning short-term memories into long-term knowledge. When combined with music and rhythm, this effect becomes even more powerful.
What the Research Shows:
- A 2024 study found that singing activities significantly improved children’s memory, learning motivation, and creativity. The repetition of words in songs helps children remember material by stimulating the brain to absorb information (Sutikno et al., 2024).
- Repetition naturally incorporates rhythm and structure, which help the brain organize information more effectively. Rhythmic patterns make it easier to recall information later (Glendora Music and Arts School, 2025).
- Repetition provides children with predictability, creating feelings of safety and security. When children know what comes next, they can focus on enjoying the activity, which increases their enthusiasm for learning (Pima County Public Library, 2020).
- Research on child-directed speech shows that repeating object labels in successive sentences promotes young children’s efficiency in learning new words (Lew-Williams et al., 2017).
Action Verbs Are the Building Blocks of Communication
Verbs—especially action words like “run,” “jump,” and “dance”—are essential for children to move beyond single words and start forming sentences. Without verbs, children cannot construct meaningful communication.
What the Research Shows:
- Research indicates that children who used more verbs at 24 months had more advanced grammatical skills six months later. Toddlers should add about 8 new verbs each month after 24 months (Speech Sisters, 2024).
- Children learn action words better when they see and hear the word in different contexts, and gesturing while using action words helps children understand meaning (Lovevery, 2024).
- Verbs are known as “functional” vocabulary because they help children communicate important information, like when they want something or need attention (Lovevery, 2024).
- A study on gesture and verb learning found that seeing iconic gestures depicting verb referents promotes both first-order and second-order verb generalization in preschoolers (Aussems et al., 2021).
Joyful Learning Builds Confidence and Emotional Well-Being
When learning feels like play, children develop positive associations with education that last a lifetime. Movement, music, and repetition create emotionally safe learning environments where children feel confident to participate and grow.
What the Research Shows:
- Music-based learning lowers emotional barriers. When children sing, they aren’t afraid of making mistakes because the song carries them. This emotional safety is key—when children feel relaxed and engaged, they learn faster and retain more (Langmobile, 2025).
- Repetition builds confidence. When children engage with something familiar, they feel a sense of accomplishment, and knowing what comes next allows them to focus on enjoying the activity (Edmonton Public Library, 2025).
- Physical activity helps relieve stress and creates a safe feeling of being part of a “classroom family” through shared songs and singing games (Community Playthings, 2024).
- Research indicates that young children’s music learning processes are similar to language acquisition. Combining music with movement creates social learning environments that promote bonding while extending learning (Northwestern College, 2018).
Music Training Enhances Overall Cognitive Development
Music isn’t just entertainment—it’s a powerful tool for brain development. Musical experiences enhance listening skills, vocabulary, memory, emotional regulation, and executive functions that support school readiness.
What the Research Shows:
- Musical training in children is associated with heightened sound sensitivity and enhancement in verbal abilities, verbal memory, second language pronunciation, reading ability, and executive functions (Miendlarzewska & Trost, 2014).
- Rhythmic entrainment—the brain’s synchronization with rhythm—hones temporal processing and attention, which underlies enhancements in reading and verbal memory (Miendlarzewska & Trost, 2014).
- Music strengthens memory and often wraps feelings or emotions around a song, enhancing learning experiences. The stronger the emotion connected with the experience, the stronger the memory (Community Playthings, 2024).
- When children sing, they are in a happy state, releasing hormones like dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins, making them more receptive to learning (Sutikno et al., 2024).
The Count & Do difference
At Count & Do, we’ve synthesized decades of research into a simple, joyful approach: movement + repetition + song = powerful learning. Our Run, Run, Run book isn’t just a story—it’s a research-backed learning experience that helps to build a foundation for lifelong learning success.
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Strengthens brain connections through active movement
Every time a child acts out “run” by moving their legs, they’re creating a multi-sensory memory that links the word, the action, and the feeling. This embodied learning makes vocabulary stick faster and last longer.
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Builds long-term memory through rhythmic repetition
When children sing “Run, run, run” repeatedly with a steady beat, they’re not just having fun—they’re encoding the word into long-term memory through joyful, rhythmic repetition. The melody carries them, making learning feel effortless.
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Teaches essential action verbs for communication
By focusing on the action verb “run” and having children physically perform the action repeatedly, we’re giving them the foundational building block they need to progress from single words to two-word phrases (“Dog run!”) and eventually complete sentences.
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Supports overall cognitive development
Our singing approach isn’t just about learning one word—it’s about building a stronger, more flexible brain that will excel across all areas of learning. The rhythm and melody in “Run, Run, Run” create neural pathways that support literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional development.
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Creates joyful, confident young learners
Children who love learning become lifelong learners. By making “run” something they sing, move to, and repeat with joy, we’re not just teaching vocabulary—we’re nurturing a love of learning that will serve them throughout their educational journey.
References
Aussems, S., & Kita, S. (2021). Seeing iconic gesture promotes first-and second-order verb generalization in preschoolers. Child Development, 92(1), 319-335.
Community Playthings. (2024). Learning through music: The support of brain research. Retrieved from https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/learning-through-music-the-support-of-brain-research
Edmonton Public Library. (2025). The power of repetition. Retrieved from https://www.epl.ca/blogs/post/the-power-of-repetition/
Glendora Music and Arts School. (2025). The science behind music and memory: How it helps kids learn faster. Retrieved from https://www.glendoramusicandartsschool.com/post/the-science-behind-music-and-memory-how-it-helps-kids-learn-faster
Langmobile. (2025). 4 powerful ways music and songs help children learn languages faster. Retrieved from https://langmobile.com/en/blog/songs-help-children-learn-languages/
Lew-Williams, C., Pelucchi, B., & Saffran, J. R. (2017). Repetition across successive sentences facilitates young children’s word learning. Developmental Psychology, 47(5), 1091-1102.
Lovevery. (2024). How to expand your toddler’s vocabulary with action words. Retrieved from https://blog.lovevery.com/language-communication/toddler-vocabulary-action-words-verbs/
Miendlarzewska, E. A., & Trost, W. J. (2014). How musical training affects cognitive development: Rhythm, reward and other modulating variables. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 7, 279.
Northwestern College. (2018). The effect of music and movement on early childhood learning. NWCommons Master’s Theses & Capstone Projects.
Petrigna, L., Thomas, E., Brusa, J., Rizzo, F., Scardina, A., Galassi, C., ... & Bellafiore, M. (2022). Does learning through movement improve academic performance in primary schoolchildren? A systematic review. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10, 841582.
Pima County Public Library. (2020). Let’s do it again! Repetition in songs reinforces memory and routine. Retrieved from https://www.library.pima.gov/blogs/post/lets-do-it-again-repetition-in-songs-reinforces-memory-and-routine/
Project Play Therapy. (2025). The connection between movement and learning. Retrieved from https://www.projectplaytherapy.com/the-connection-between-movement-and-learning/
Speech Sisters. (2024). Teaching verbs to your little one: The power of action words. Retrieved from https://www.speechsisters.com/blog/teaching-verbs-to-your-little-one-the-power-of-action-words
Sutikno, P. Y., Jazuli, M., Utomo, U., & Sunarto. (2024). The effects of singing activities on children’s memory, learning motivation, and creativity in an Indonesian kindergarten for preschoolers. Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, 12(1), e3123.
Count it. Sing it. Move it.
Run, Run, Run! is the first book in the Count & Do series — a research-backed movement learning experience designed for children ages 0–4. Each page introduces a new action verb with a number to match, building from 1 all the way to 10, inviting your toddler tomove, sing, and repeatevery word right along with the story.
