Here are three major benefits of music therapy and why you should consider trying it for your child.
Not only is music a universal form of human expression, but it can be a powerful tool for communication. Music has been proven again and again to break barriers, which is why using it in recreational therapy is a great way to help children with disabilities who might otherwise feel cut off from the rest of the world. Here are three major benefits of music therapy and why you should consider trying it for your child.
Motivational
As you probably know very well, a child with special needs might find certain tasks frustrating, and be less likely to want to do them. But you can incorporate music to make these tasks more fun and help motivate your child to work hard. It could be simple as playing music while they are working on a puzzle or doing chores.
Life Skills
Having your child learn an instrument is one of the best ways to teach them several life skills. They will learn responsibility by keeping up with a practice schedule, and as they get better at playing the instrument then they will have a sense of accomplishment that their work is paying off. Learning a musical instrument can also teach them fine motor skills, and sensory integration as they learn to coordinate their visual, auditory, and tactile senses. Music therapy creates a safe space for your child to try several instruments, each having the goal of strengthening a different aspect of their mind.
Nonverbal
If your child has difficulties communicating verbally, then they probably feel left out of a lot of activities. But there is the perfect level of poetic justice when it comes to music, because it gives your child the opportunity to express themselves through sound even if they are completely nonverbal. Music can give them confidence to communicate through sound in a way they hadn’t been able to before.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center serves families of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs. We are a team of experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral sciences. As a team, we offer intensive hands-on therapy for children and adolescents, as well as informative and useful resources for families. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your family, visit us online or give us a call at (202) 561-1110 (Washington, D.C. office) or (301) 577-4333 (Lanham office). Want to get more information on how to help your child thrive? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.