Happy Adventuring: Feel the Music!

It is a truth universally acknowledged that kids love music. They just do. No matter how often I see a baby do the "squat up and down dance" it always makes my ovaries hurt (and I also wonder how they squat like that without breaking a sweat). Not only is music fun for kiddos, but it's got so many other benefits as well. Music education woks on rhythm skills, language processing, memorization, pattern recognition, imagination, relaxation, and so many other things. While music can benefit every single child, there are some situations where music might make a giant, tangible impact on your kiddo's life. This is where music therapy comes into play. ​

Music therapy is using music as an intervention to accomplish individualized goals. Take a look at a few examples of what it does:

• Work to reduce asthma episodes
• Work with premature infants to improve sleep patterns and increase weight gain
• Work with children who have autism to improve communication capabilities 
• Work to help children cope with the aftermath of trauma or crisis
• Work to manage pain

A new music therapy clinic recently opened in Eugene, so my two littles and I went to check it out. We met Danielle, a bright and cheerful expert in all things music. My two boys instantly felt comfortable with her and her space, which was open and inviting and safe. The next 45 minutes was spent patting knees, experimenting with various instruments (several of which my boys have never had the opportunity to work with previously, which was fun), learning new songs, and moving to the beat. My boys - 14 months and 4.5 years, were both super entertained the entire time. Despite my babe being a bit yowl-y as a result of skipping his nap as well as my big boy being a whole lot of crazy as a result of skipping breakfast (WHY???) Danielle didn't bat an eye and just kept on keeping on. We joined in as we could and it all felt super relaxed and adaptable. It was the kind of environment where every child is going to feel successful and supported. 
Thanks so much for letting us visit Danielle! 

Check out the Refuge Music Therapy website here.

Happy Adventuring!