Throughout the years working with kids, I've come to understand that most people (even adults) tend to either have sensory seeking or sensory avoiding tendencies. We tend to either seek certain stimuli or avoid certain stimuli. As adults, we have the option to shape our lives to accommodate our sensory needs and preferences. Don’t like scratchy shirts? You probably wear soft clothes. Find strong smells calming? Maybe your house is full of richly scented candles.
Kids, on the other hand, tend to have fewer coping strategies and less control over their environment. And even if a child is in their “ideal” sensory environment, the unique ways brains process sensory information can make some kids more prone to overwhelm. But, kids are kids! Just like adults, kids are going to experience some dysregulation, and that's okay and expected!
This observation plays a big role in my approach as a music therapist and music educator. I call it my sensory-based approach.
Taking a sensory-based approach means that we are assessing the sensory environment and how kids are uniquely responding to stimuli.
What does taking a sensory-based approach look like as a music therapist or educator?
If you are interested in learning more about my philosophy on taking a sensory-based approach as a music therapist and music educator, I encourage you to take a listen to this episode of the Music For Kiddos Podcast. In sum, taking a sensory-based approach can look like adjusting our music accordingly to kids’ responses, and making sure that we remain flexible in meeting their sensory needs. There are certain sensory considerations that I take into account as a music therapist and music educator when I’m sharing a music space with children:
When I enter a music space, the first thing I do is assess the sensory environment.
I observe the way that kids are uniquely responding to sensory stimuli.
I adjust my music accordingly, and make sure that it is flexible (sometimes that means that I'm adjusting something really simple like the volume. Or instead of strumming my guitar, I'm finger-picking).
I continue to assess if the music I’m providing is meeting their sensory needs. If it is not, I contemplate changing or abandoning my plan altogether to use some sensory-based music strategies that can help the kids to regulate their bodies and modulate their sensory systems. We might even sit in silence.
We can help kids to understand & express what their body needs in the moment through music.
Utilizing sensory-based strategies to help kids regulate their bodies through music includes bringing in songs that address various needs— which is one of the main focus of my course, Sensory Songs: Music Considerations For Regulation. Because I like to simplify things and categorize them so that they can be explained as simply as possible, I have categorized the various types of sensory songs that I have written after much thought and considering the role these songs play in supporting kids' sensory needs.
I think these categories will expand someday as we learn more about sensory processing... but here they are:
Songs for expression- songs that help kids understand and communicate what their body needs in the moment
Songs for input- songs that provide some sensory input
Songs for breathing- songs to encourage breathing or a sense of calm
The way that I choose how to implement those songs is really dependent on what I'm seeing in the moment.
We also can help kids to self-advocate for their sensory needs.
By bringing these sensory tools and songs into music spaces with kids, we are supporting kids in understanding what is happening with their bodies, we encourage them to learn tools to help regulate their sensory systems, and we help them become advocates for themselves by learning to communicate what their body needs.
One of my favorite check-in songs for self-advocacy that can help kids communicate what their body is feeling and needing is my song Body Break. Watch the video below to see this song in action:
So, going back to the original questions that brought you to this blog post: “Can we help kids regulate their sensory systems with music?” Absolutely yes.
Helping kids to regulate their bodies through musical and non-musical tools for sensory support is the focus of my course Sensory Songs: Music Considerations For Regulation. This self-paced video course explores music as a supportive tool for sensory regulation and features an occupational therapist and two music therapists who walk you through concepts such as: sensory processing, regulation and modulation, sensory seeking and/or avoiding tendencies, and music strategies for regulation. You’ll also receive 14 ready-to-use songs created specifically for sensory exploration.
Through music, we have an opportunity to kindly guide kids to help them regulate their body.
Above all, taking a sensory-based approach as a music therapist or music educator increases our empathy for the kids that we work with.
