More than ABCs and 123s – Music Therapy for Learning & Child Development

Nancy Saraiva

I remember when my daughter came home from school with the task of memorizing the times tables. It seemed exciting at first; it is in fact something useful in daily life and I immersed myself in drilling techniques, often using traditional tools like flash cards. Though repetition did help to kick start her learning, we came up with something else – a rhyming song using equations. Suddenly the memorizing became easier and the song ultimately led to her mastering the pesky numbers. With so many differences in children it’s amazing to see how music, whether it is singing or banging on a drum, can have such a positive effect on their learning and development. For this reason, many parents are using music therapy to tackle some challenging health and behavioural issues.

The Canadian Association for Music Therapy (www.musictherapy.ca) describes music therapy as “the skillful use of music and musical elements by an accredited music therapist to promote, maintain, and restore mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health”.  Erin Parr, a music therapist for 10 years, working with children up to age 12 in the South Surrey, Langley and Chilliwack areas, says “Music therapy allows people and children to work on specific goals in a fun and non-verbal manner. It can address fine motor skills with instruments, gross motor skills with actions songs and dances, speech and language goals with songs that target specific needs and social skills through group work and turn taking.”

Whether it is Mozart or traditional Irish music, all genres can have a beneficial effect on a child’s development, provided there isn’t negative language, which could have harmful effects on young children. “Music is essential to child development as it helps develop language and math skills as well as promoting self-esteem, listening skills and creativity,” says Parr.

 Music therapy sessions differ depending on the child’s needs with various instruments, movements and songs used to achieve the outlined goals. “Sessions are often high energy and filled with fun activities that are motivating to the child,” says Parr. Music is a common string that ties people together and enables a sense of belonging and allows for creative expression.

“It is accessible to everyone and allows for all abilities to participate and interact. Just because someone cannot speak, does not mean they don’t have a lot to say,” Parr says. 

 For further information on music therapy, please visit the Music Therapy Association of BC at www.mtabc.com.

Nancy Saraiva

There’s a trend making its way back into the world of parenting. The trend is good old fashioned play.  According to the BC Ministry of Education, play is so important that its significance in children’s lives is recognized by the United Nations as a specific right.

Play has been turned upside down from the days when kids would be out playing kick the can or street hockey or making forts at the neighbourhood park, to today, where more often than not, play refers to something that involves a child sitting in front of a screen. Scheduled lives have become the norm as parents chauffeur their kids from activity to activity hoping their kids will develop into the next child prodigy.

So what happened to play and how do parents allow kids to just…play? The first step is to understand the benefits play has in child development. BC’s Early Learning Framework states that in playing, children express, explore, combine, and extend what they have learned about the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of the world around them; and about their own and other people’s thoughts, feelings, ideas, and sensations.

“Strong social skills, a rich imagination and an increased capacity for problem solving and creative thinking are among the typical traits I would connect with children who have regular opportunities for unstructured play with their peers,” says Erika Warkentin, a New Westminster kindergarten teacher.

Upon dissection, it’s easy to see the underlying benefits of free play. With role playing exercises, children learn to consider other people’s perspectives, learn to develop self-control and they develop their negotiating skills in planning. Simple games with blocks and toys enhance brain and motor development. Dress-up play nurtures children’s imagination and social skills.

“Children start life with an incredible capacity for being creative and it is wonderful to observe the children who have had regular opportunities to nurture and develop these skills,” continues Warkentin.

Though there are benefits to the structured classes, it’s important to find a healthy balance and ensure that play is scheduled into their daily lives. Stepping out of ‘adult life’ and into imaginative play is a great opportunity to bond and it’s a tried and true de-stressor. Unstructured play gives adults a wonderful window to peek in and watch the creativity brewing in their little heads. Besides, Mister Rogers wouldn’t lie when he said, “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”

The New Westminster Summer Camping Bureau offers financial assistance with registration fees for summer camps to low income families living in New
Westminster. The camps themselves often provide a reduced rate to campers registering through the camping bureau.

Who can Participate: Low income families living in New Westminster

Contact: Camping Bureau Coordinator 604-522-3722 (114)

Hours of Operation: Tuesday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm (the day after the long weekend in May to mid August)

Location: Fraserside Camping Bureau, 768 Columbia St., New Westminster

Summer camps can be anything from a half day, week long soccer camp to a 2-week overnight wilderness camp.

Who can Participate: Low income families living in New
Westminster
Contact: Camping Bureau Coordinator 604-522-3722 (114)
Hours of Operation: Tuesday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm (the day
after the long weekend in May to mid August)
Location: Fraserside Camping Bureau, 768 Col