Engaging in music sensory
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Engaging your child in music sensory activities can add to the many enjoyable and meaningful ways to tap into the benefits of music in the home environment. There are many ways to facilitate the wonderful music sensory experiences for your child, getting them involved hands-on with arts and crafts, sound, music-making, and more. These activities are perfect for holidays at home, or as a family activity, involving the whole family and friends too!
Music sensoryc experiences hold so many benefits for children, such as developing social skills, language, fine motor skills, and the ability to regulate emotions and self-soothe. They’re perfect for kids of all ages too, from toddlers to primary schoolers – there’s something for everyone in musical play.
There are plenty of easy ways to start introducing music sensory play to your kids – all you need to start can be your voice, the simplest instrument! It’s never too late to sing to and with your child – singing has many benefits for development, even before birth. Karaoke, lullabies, and singing their favourite song from a movie are all potential ways to engage kids and get them interested in the voice. This can be easily adapted, and can be especially soothing for those with sensory needs, notably auditory, as compared to other instruments, there is significantly more control over volume and sound.
A child happily singing into a microphone, engaging in karaoke at home. The soothing activity is perfect for kids with sensory needs, providing gentle control over volume and sound, unlike other instruments.
Music Sensory: hand-on ideas.
For those who like to get a little more hands-on, crafting an instrument such as a tissue-box guitar at home can be an easy, accessible way to encourage children to develop an interest in music. This promotes motor skills, as well as providing sensory input – auditory and tactile. All it takes is some materials, easily sourced from your household or a local craft store, and a bit of imagination. This can be great for families, especially those with primary aged children – keep in mind there may be scissors or small parts involved so this may not be suitable for everyone.
One other great activity is making tin shakers – using an empty tin, some dried beans (or any other small bead-like thing that can be shaken), and some plastic cling wrap on top (or a balloon and some rubber bands), you can make a shaker – try engaging kids by getting them involved in explaining the different sounds made by different materials inside the tin, or how different each shake of the tin feels. This can be great for involving younger ones – just keep an eye out for small parts.
One other great activity is making tin shakers – using an empty tin, some dried beans (or any other small bead-like thing that can be shaken).
Activities like these are so enriching for children and can be adapted to accommodate individual needs easily. Music can be so rewarding as an auditory sensory experience, and the best part is that it’s easily accessible for everyone. It’s that simple to bring home some craft and music for kids – give it a try, and get the family involved!
Commitment to Accessibility of Music Therapy in Australia.
Creative Therapy Adelaide is committed to providing quality music therapy in Adelaide. By bringing therapy into the home, Creative Therapy Adelaide ensures that you can access personalised care in the comfort of your own environment.
Our therapists work closely with clients and their support networks to develop strategies that integrate seamlessly into daily life. For in-person sessions, we operate within a 30-minute radius of our clinic at Torrensville. For those outside of this zone, we can offer telehealth, otherwise don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your needs.
Creative Therapy Adelaide is dedicated to making music therapy in Adelaide accessible to everyone.
Would you like to learn more about music therapy? Visit the Australian Music Therapy Association‘s website.
Written by Emily, a first-year Master’s student in Music Therapy at the University of Melbourne. Emily’s bright and enthusiastic presence was enjoyed by the team at Creative Therapy Adelaide during her second-semester clinical placement with us.
