Music Therapy for Young Children By: Shane Moore

What is Music Therapy? Music Therapy is the use of music to assist the physical, spiritual, cognitive, and social needs of a person or a group of people (Frey, 2006). This therapy can be used with all ages in many different settings. But, it has mainly been used for the infant thru adolescents age group (Gold, Voracek, & Wigram, 2004 ).

According to Frey, music therapy has been an effective way of treatment for: 1.Communicating strong feelings/improving communication 2.Relieving depression/ anxiety- music has been known to be a soother of anxieties (Kahn & Adamec, 2008) 3.Healing of certain organs 4.Spiritual Nurture 5.Sensory stimulation 6.Physical Coordination Purpose

Techniques/ Instruments According to Michelle Lefevre, there are certain instruments and techniques that can be used for this therapy. You can: Play keyboards Sing Write songs Tape record

Music Therapy and Parent-Child Programs Music-based parenting intervention programs have the capability to accommodate non-threatening environments, which provides enjoyment for both the parent and the child (Abad & Williams, 2007) Music therapy is a very inexpensive treatment. One familiar program that is offered is called the “Sing and Grow” music therapy program. This program is offered through brief weekly group sessions with up to 10 families, and the main purpose of these sessions are to strengthen the parent and child relationship by helping parents bond with their children. (Edwards, 2011) The Sing and Grow music therapy is created for early intervention and children within the ages of 0-3 years (Abad & Williams, 2007).

Effects on At-Risk Families Family relationships sets the foundation for an individuals physical, moral, language, and social development. Families that are labeled “At-Risk” might experience some issues that may impact the way that they bond with each other. Early life situations have been a direct effect on the child’s mental health and well being (Abad & Williams, 2007).

Parent and Young Children bonding Music therapy can be a process to establish a relationship between the caregiver and the child. Parents can develop their skills in music interaction like lullabies, rhyming, and chanting to advertise the sensitivity and co-regulation between the child and themselves, as well as to establish an environment for an immune attachment. (Edwards, 2011)

Music therapy and Young children with Autism A study showed that music therapy was more effective than a play session in increasing joint attention, eye contact, and overall engagement with autistic children; but not all autistic children look at music therapy as enjoyable. They expressed their dislike by using negative reinforcement of behavior (Simpson & Keen, 2011).

Benefits of Music Therapy with Young Children Premature babies that get exposed to contingent music (lullabies), experience an increase of non-nutritive sucking (Standley, 2011 ). Parents of young children with cystic fibrosis express enjoyment during chest physiotherapy when music is being compose to accompany exercises (Polomano, Shirk, & Stouffer, 2007).

References Abad, V., & Williams, K. E. "Early intervention music therapy: Reporting on a 3-year project to address needs with at- risk families." Music Therapy Perspectives. American Music Therapy Association Edwards, J. (2011) The use of music therapy to promote attachment between parents and infants. The Arts in Psychotherapy 38, doi: /j.aip Edwards, J. (Ed.) (2011). Music therapy and parent-infant bonding. New York, NY: Oxford: Oxford University Press. Frey, R. J. (2006). Music therapy. In J. L. Longe (Ed.), Gale encyclopedia of nursing and allied health (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp ). Detroit, MI: Gale. Gold, C., Voracek, M. & Wigram, T. (2004). Effects of music therapy for children and adolescents with psychopathology: A meta-analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45, 1054–1063. doi: /j t x Lefevre, M. (2004). Playing with sound: The therapeutic use of music in direct work with children. Child and Family Social Work, 9, 333–345. doi: /j x Music as anxiety therapy. (2008). In R. M. Doctor, A.P. Kahn, & C.Adamec (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Phobias, Fears, and Anxieties (3rd ed., p. 354). New York, NY: Facts on File. Simpson, K., & Keen, D. (2011). Music interventions for children with autism: Narrative review of the literature. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, doi: /s y Standley, J.M. (2011). Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, No. 149, Pioneering Inquiry in the New Century: Exemplars of Music Research, Part II (Spring, 2001), pp Stouffer, J.W., Shirk, B.J., & Polomano, R.C. (2007). Practice guidelines for music interventions with hospitalized pediatric patients. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 22, doi: /j.pedn , How