The Health Benefits of Music Therapy for Children

For centuries, music has been a beloved art form, and it has been said that it has the power to soothe even a savage beast. If that’s true, just imagine what it can do for your children. Music therapy for children has many recognized benefits, and it’s a great way to help kids grow up into fine young adults. Consider the following health benefits of music therapy for children.

1. Quiet the Mind
   Don’t think that we adults are alone in feeling stressed by daily life. Though children may not have the same responsibilities, their lives can be just as stressful. Too much stress makes the brain run in circles, leading to fatigue, depression, and many other serious problems. Music therapy helps to quiet the mind. The great feeling we get from listening to our favorite music is largely due to this quieting effect, and its benefits for children are numerous.
2. Help Calm the Heart
   A healthy heart is essential for a good life. In a time when children are leading increasingly sedentary lives, spending more time indoors and less time getting the exercise they need, cardiovascular health is more important than ever before. Music therapy, it turns out, can be very beneficial in this respect. Blood pressure and heart rate can be affected greatly by music, and the right kind of music therapy can reduce blood pressure, leading to better overall cardiovascular health. Keep your kids living healthy lives by improving their heart health with the power of music therapy.
3. Promote a Sense of Relaxation
   It’s difficult to live a happy and healthy life if you don’t know how to relax. Children often seem boundlessly energetic, but they need time to relax as well. Playing music, singing, or even just listening, can all help to promote relaxation. This can help to relieve muscle tension as well as promote an overall sense of well-being. Our bodies and minds need rest every day, and music therapy is a great way to help your kids get the rest that they need.
4. Sharpen Motor Skills
   Neuro-muscular coordination is the term we use to refer to the way that the brain interacts with the muscles. This is an important aspect of physical health, and one that is given lots of attention in rehabilitation clinics and physical therapy programs. Music therapy is a great way to improve this kind of coordination and help your children sharpen their motor skills. Playing music and singing help children to create connections between actions and sounds, and learn how to turn those sounds into melody. All in all, it’s great for helping them develop solid motor skills.
5. Improve Cognitive Functioning
   Many kids today spend countless hours in front of the TV being bombarded by commercials and celebrity news on a massive scale. Music therapy offers a productive way to spend time that can help improve cognitive functioning. Children who are affected by attention deficit disorders are especially susceptible to the benefits of music therapy, as it helps them concentrate and overcome their problems. It is a very positive use of energy that can benefit children from all walks of life.