Learning Flexibility: How to Cope With a New School Year

The new school year is right around the corner!  Are you and your kids prepared for it?  If routine changes are hard for your kids, keep reading!

Whether you are excited or anxious for what the new school year might bring, kids all over will soon be packing their school bags and heading to their new classrooms.  Transitioning to the new school year is often difficult for kids, especially those on the autism spectrum or diagnosed with Down syndrome.  A new school year brings new teachers, new classmates, new routine, new expectations, new locker placement, new schedule, NEW, NEW, NEW.  Talk about a big transition!  Especially after summer break full of fun, freedom, and an entirely different routine!  

A skill that becomes essential for transitions such as this is FLEXIBILITY.  Flexibility is a skill that needs to be learned and practiced by people of all ages.  I’m sure you can relate along with me.  For example, maybe your schedule at work was changed recently and you’re struggling to adjust, or the grocery store changed their layout and you find yourself becoming frustrated when you can’t find the eggs.  Those on the autism spectrum or diagnosed with Down syndrome often have even more trouble learning and putting flexibility into practice.  Becoming proficient at this skill is greatly beneficial for coping with a new routine, like starting a new school year.  

If your child struggles with the transition back to school (or any other change in routine for that matter), music therapy may be beneficial.  Music therapy can help kids with autism, Down syndrome, and other exceptionalities learn about the importance of flexibility, how to identify coping skills, and how to practice flexibility in all areas of life.  One of the ways we, at Thrive Music Therapy, teach this skill is by teaching, singing, and co-writing a song we like to call, ‘The Flexibility Song’.  The song’s structure provides opportunities to customize lyrics by including specific situations and personal coping skills so that each individual is able to apply the song’s information in their life. Learning new information through music helps increase overall retention rate and causes kids have a higher probability of recalling their coping skills at a time of need when learning them through music.  Once the song is learned and practiced, music therapists can derive opportunities for each child to put their new flexibility skills into action.  Plenty of practice in a controlled, safe setting, such as a music therapy session, allows for continued learning that will often translate to every day situations where this skill is required.  Being flexible with a new routine isn’t always easy, but having a personalized song to play or sing at a time of need may help to you or your child appropriately cope with any heightened anxiety, anger, and/or frustration that may arise. Learning and practicing flexibility has now become a lot more FUN!

Check out one version of ‘The Flexibility Song’ we’ve used in music therapy treatment for a teen with autism below.  

Discover more about what we offer at Thrive Music Therapy on our ‘Services Offered’ page.  

If you’re interested in talking with our music therapist about whether music therapy services are a good fit for you or your child, call for a COMPLIMENTARY consultation.

Feelin’ Good in our NEW Neighborhood

Well, we made it! My husband and I are officially Wisconsinites once again. Due to my husband’s military service, we were living in northern California; however, with his contract ending, we knew it was time to come back to our home state of Wisconsin. We specifically chose to relocate to Appleton, WI, not only to be closer to family, but to immerse ourselves in this humble, but mighty town. Due to prior visits and nearby family, we knew Appleton was a quaint, yet lively place. We knew there were plenty of community events where citizens were readily involved, lots of outdoor places to explore, an extensive appreciation for the arts and music, and finally, the friendly and intentional culture Appleton embodies. For all those reasons, we wanted to be a part of it.

That’s where Thrive Music Therapy LLC comes in. As we dreamed of our relocation back to the Midwest, we wanted to explore all the options, big or small. I had a solid background working for a wonderful private practice, Vacaville Music Therapy, and I was mentored on music therapy techniques and small business practices and strategies by the owner, Brianna McCulloch. There, I provided music therapy services for children with various intellectual disabilities, led a music social group for teens with ASD, and facilitated music therapy groups for adults with intellectual disabilities and older adults within a memory care residence. I was inspired by Brianna’s dedication to the clients we served and I wanted to give business ownership a shot myself. Thrive Music Therapy LLC started as a crazy idea in our small home in California and now is officially off the ground. We are fully up and running and want to immerse ourselves into the Appleton community and it’s surrounding area.

And that’s where you come in. Do you have a child or loved one who has an intellectual or developmental disability? Are they struggling with a certain area, such as social skills, language and communication, behavior, or physical limitations? Music therapy services may be a great option! We are available and ready to meet the specific needs and goal areas of your child or loved one. Call or email us for a FREE consultation. I would be happy to speak with you to see if music therapy is a good fit.

Why Music Therapy?

Music therapy is an evidenced-based health profession that purposefully uses music to target specific, functional goals. There have been many clinical studies conducted that show music therapy interventions helping to improve social skills, behavior skills, motor skills, speech and communication, and enhance self-esteem for children and adults with disabilities. In addition, music therapy groups are able to promote social interaction, teamwork, self-awareness, meaningful engagement, and awareness of others. This means that implementing music therapy in early intervention programs, group homes, or assisted living facilities may help decrease unwanted behavior, create a meaningful experience that participants are able to share together, provide social connection, and promote creativity and self-expression.

Not only is music therapy treatment EFFECTIVE, it’s FUN and MOTIVATING too! Since music is multi-sensory by nature, it inherently captures attention, sustains it, and prompts action. A trained board-certified music therapist can use these characteristics of music to elicit powerful results that often reflect positive progress for those participating.

If music therapy services sound like a good fit for you, call or email us for a FREE consultation!

If you would like additional information about music therapy, click here.