Finding the right motivator is key in working with early childhood. Bubbles may be just the trick! I’ve recently fallen in love with bubbles. Well one particular brand of bubbles, actually: Tootle Turtle. These are seriously the most amazing bubbles I have ever used, and in the last few months I’ve gone through 3 different brands between..
Early Childhood is a crucial time for development. Let music be a part of it for your child! We are currently restructuring our early childhood music therapy groups! Up until now the groups have been focused on individuals with disabilities, but we are now inviting children of all abilities to participate and interact with one..
An understanding of sensory processes is crucial in Autism treatment. One must meet sensory needs first–learn why and how! I admit I am a bit of a nerd when it comes to sensory integration. Last summer when my friends were reading books like the Hunger Games and other fun novels I was digging in and loving “Sensory Integration and..
Music therapy can help special needs children learn to identify, express, and control their emotions. I was recently presenting at a conference and had a parent ask whether I can use music to help with emotional regulation for special needs children. I figured I could share my response here as well for any other parents..
Music Therapy can provide a significant source of motivation in Autism treatment. Find out how: For a child with Autism, learning to communicate is a significant barrier. Not only does the child have difficulty knowing how to communicate, but often they are so involved in their own world that they have difficult finding the motivation to communicate. This..
Social skills are often a key element of Autism treatment, and music therapy is a powerful way to develop them. As a music therapist my Autism treatment goals fall under the standard domains of cognition, social skills, motor development, emotional regulation, and/or communication. Among these domains, social skills has always been a point of fascination..
Understanding what can go wrong with sensory integration is crucial in Autism treatment. Here is a simple explanation. My previous post on this topic focused on defining two senses which are often overlooked: proprioceptive and vestibular. The hope in defining those essential senses is that you as a parent or practitioner will have a more concrete view..
A fun and engaging song to use in early childhood settings! This is one of my absolute favorite finger play songs to use in early childhood (it’s tied with the Monkey and Alligator game:), and kids absolutely love it! I first found it on songsforteaching.com as recorded by Jim Rule (find the recording here) and I..
Anyone providing Autism treatment must be aware of sensory processing that occurs beyond the five basic senses. Learning about the proprioceptive and vestibular senses makes all the difference! We all grow up learning about the 5 senses: taste, touch, smell, sight and sound. I remember seeing fun little diagrams with pictures of a hand with..
Early childhood is a critical time for learning and growth. Parents can help their children develop by using music with them at home. Here are some ideas! One of the most important parts of my job is giving parents practical ideas on how to use music in the home to help their children progress in..