Benefits of music for children with specialised needs.Everyone knows that music is a universal language and for children who have barriers with communication, social interaction or emotional language music is especially well-suited to their needs, because it helps capture and helps maintain attention.
Music serves as a great motivator and helps to reinforce desired responses, assisting a child to reduce negative and/or self stimulatory responses and increase participation in socially accepted ways. There are many benefits to using music to help with some of the barriers associated with ASD, ADD, ADHD, ODD and other emotional and mood disorders. One of these benefits is that music provides the structural regularity is vital for all children. Within that structure it is possible to expand that child's repertoire of functioning. Depending on the child's placement on the spectrum or nature of the barrier music assist with communication in different ways. For the child at the severe end, music is often the means of communication. In non-verbal children, music alloes them to communicate without language, fostering creative self expression. Music is a global process, meaning it is processed in both hemispheres of the brain. It can stimulate cognitive functioning and may lead to the development of verbal communication, speech and language skills. Kalinda Jade Studios uses a variety of games, interactive activities and listening activities to help support social and personal development and fine motor skills. We are not music therapist but we are here to help support and occupational and therapeutic goals for any student requiring support or intervention. At Kalinda Jade Studios, we have seen children go from being almost non-communicative to performing on stage in front of hundreds of people. It has increased their confidence and self esteem and that is the greatest reward any of the teachers could ask for. |
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Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. - Bertold Auerbach