The benefits of music therapy for children
- christinaphung
- Nov 13, 2017
- 2 min read
People often ask me what is music therapy. I respond by talking about the benefits about music therapy for certain population groups, and then give examples of how music therapy can be used.
Here is a good summary of the benefits of music therapy for children:
Active music making - Children are offered the opportunity to express their emotions, ‘Hit the drum and tell me how you feel right now!’
Self expression - Within a music therapy session, a child may express their anger, fear and frustration in an acceptable way. In music therapy, children can have fun and just be a child
Procedural support - A child’s perception of pain may be reduced through listening to or playing music because it is structured, engaging and fun. Music therapy can be used during medical procedures such as needles to support a child’s distress.
Psychosocial - Music can be comforting, nurturing and soothing, especially songs that also involve parents or caregivers in singing their favourite songs from home. The unfamiliar environment can be given familiarity through known songs from home.
Choice and control - The music therapist empowers children to make decisions during the session. They can choose what instrument, song, fast, slow, stop, start, loud, soft and even the specific part of a song.
Socialisation and music therapy groups - Seeing other children in similar situations helps children to understand their own experience as being normal.
Relaxation - Most often children and their parents/ caregivers have had a long night waiting in emergency, they are tired and need to rest and recover. Music can assist in helping a child to relax and go to sleep.
Please subscribe to my blog if you would like to follow my journey as a music therapist and to learn more about music therapy. I'll be posting both in English and in French.
Comments