Music and Your Special Needs Child

If you have a child who suffers from coordination, balance, or other movement problems you might be surprised how much improvement can be gained through music. Helene Goldnadel says when you really think about the physical and mental skills that go into playing music or even just dancing and singing, you start to see how early childhood musical programs can work wonders for children with special needs.

Focus & Concentration

Playing an instrument, reading music, and trying to sing particular notes do require a great deal of mental focus and concentration. Though a music star seems to be having a great time on the stage at a concert, they are actually thinking and concentrating with every motion they make. This is what makes the entertainment business much more challenging than non-performers ever recognize.

Yet, you don't have to be a superstar to benefit from enhanced focus and concentration through musical exploration. A small baby that hears an interesting musical sound will turn their attention to the sound and focus on it at least for a short period of time. A young child presented with a new instrument will focus on trying to make sounds with it. This type of focus and concentration comes natural with music and is beneficial to children who have difficulty concentrating...

Emotional Expression

How do you feel when you hear a song that speaks to you on a deep emotional level? You probably put that song on your mp3 player, turn up the volume when it comes on the radio, and go out to purchase the CD when it is released. You do this because music allows for emotional expression on part of the artist as well as the listeners.

Children that have trouble expressing them or bonding with others will benefit tremendously from a musical outlet. This can be started from a very early age with a good childhood musical program. They can learn to express themselves and bond with others!

Coordination & Gross Motor Skills

Children learn to coordinate the right and left arms when they learn to play the drums. They learn how to manipulate their fingers when they learn how to pick a guitar or run a bow over the strings of a violin. There are many physical handicaps and weaknesses that can be improved just by learning to play different musical instruments.

Helene Goldnadel believes that even very young babies can benefit from learning to coordinate and manipulate their fingers and hands to create music. This is why there are so many musical programs now being developed for babies and toddlers. They can learn to master fine motor skills and body coordination from a very early age. That will be a benefit throughout their lives as they are met with physical challenges at work, in play, and when socializing with others.

Social Skills

When you enroll a child in early childhood musical programs they are naturally placed with other children within their same basic age group. They are encouraged to socialize with others as they share instruments and work together on musical projects. Even sitting with others and listening to music or listening to a book can be a great social exercise for children who may struggle in that area.

These benefits help shy children but could be used with a child who has difficulty bonding with others as well.