Benefits of Action Songs for Children with Autism
Action songs, which combine music with specific movements, are an excellent tool for helping children with autism develop important skills. These songs are more than just fun—they play a vital role in enhancing communication, social interaction, motor skills, and more. In this blog post, we’ll explore how action songs benefit children with autism, especially within the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) framework. At our clinics in Bondi Junction and Mascot, we’re proud to offer therapy from Certified ESDM Therapists, setting us apart from many other clinics.
Enhancing Communication Skills through Action Songs
Encouraging Speech: Action songs often use repetitive words and phrases. This repetition helps children practice saying these words, which can improve their speech skills over time.
Building Vocabulary: The lyrics of introduce new words related to body parts, animals, and actions. As children sing along, they expand their vocabulary, which helps them communicate more effectively.
Promoting Imitation: Imitation is a key skill for learning to speak, and children with autism often struggle with it. Action songs encourage them to mimic movements and sounds, which strengthens this crucial skill.
Improving Social Skills through Action Songs
Group Participation: Singing action songs in a group setting teaches children with autism how to participate in a shared activity. They learn to follow along with others, which is a great way to practice social skills. It is a great way to learn to play together.
Turn-Taking: Many of these songs involve taking turns, helping children understand and practice this important social concept. Learning to wait their turn in a fun, engaging way can be very beneficial.
Eye Contact and Joint Attention: Engaging in action songs often requires children to look at the teacher or other children. This practice can improve eye contact and joint attention—areas where children with autism often need support.
Enhancing Motor Skills through Action Songs
Gross Motor Skills: Movements like jumping, clapping, and stomping in action songs help develop gross motor skills by strengthening large muscle groups and improving coordination.
Fine Motor Skills: Some action songs include smaller, more precise movements, such as finger play. These actions help develop fine motor skills, which are essential for tasks like writing and buttoning clothes.
Body Awareness: Performing the actions in these songs helps children become more aware of their bodies. They learn to control their movements and understand how different parts of their body work together.
Supporting Sensory Processing through Action Songs
Sensory Integration: Action songs provide sensory input through movement, sound, and rhythm. This helps children with autism process sensory information more effectively, making it easier for them to cope with everyday sensory experiences.
Calming Effects: The repetitive nature of these songs can have a calming effect on children with autism. The predictable patterns of the songs and movements help reduce anxiety and stress.
Regulating Energy Levels: Depending on the song, these songs can be energising or calming. This helps children with autism regulate their energy levels and emotions, whether they need to release excess energy or wind down.
Boosting Cognitive Development through Action Songs
Memory and Recall: Learning the words and actions of songs helps improve memory. Children practice recalling the sequence of movements and lyrics, which strengthens cognitive skills.
Following Directions: Action songs often include specific instructions for movements. Following these directions helps children with autism practice listening and completing tasks, which are important for cognitive development.
Learning Concepts: Many of these songs teach basic concepts like counting, colors, and shapes. Singing these songs reinforces these educational concepts in an engaging way, making learning fun and effective.
Encouraging Emotional Expression through Action Songs
Expressing Feelings: Action songs provide a safe way for children to express their emotions. The movements and music help them show feelings like happiness, excitement, or calmness.
Building Confidence: Successfully participating in action songs boosts children’s confidence. They feel proud of their ability to follow along and perform the actions, which can increase their overall self-esteem.
Connecting with Others: Engaging in these songs helps children with autism connect with their peers and teachers. This sense of connection supports their emotional well-being and helps them feel more comfortable in social settings.
Conclusion
Action songs offer a wide range of benefits for children with autism, particularly when integrated into Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) programs. These songs enhance communication, social skills, motor skills, sensory processing, cognitive development, and emotional expression. By incorporating action songs into daily routines and therapy sessions, parents and educators can provide a fun and effective way to support the growth and development of children with autism.
We’re Here to Support You
At OneOnOne Children’s Therapy, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to grow and thrive. Our clinics in Bondi Junction and Mascot are not just spaces for therapy—they’re places where children can discover their strengths, overcome challenges, and reach their full potential.
Reach Out for Support
If you’re concerned about your child’s development or want to learn more about how our ESDM programs can help with their self-care skills, OneOnOne Children’s Therapy is here to help. Call us on (02) 80657837 or email us to book a free 30-minute phone call. Let’s discuss how we can support your child’s unique journey towards growth and success.
Our Certified ESDM Therapists, Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists work closely together to ensure that we have the highly quality therapy individualised for each child.
