Where has the summer gone?

That seems to be the question everyone is asking these days! For many people, summer means rest and relaxation, a less rigid schedule and dress code, a time to recharge and maybe even go on vacation. Summer’s laid back style does not always work well for people with disabilities and their families. Many of our clients thrive on routine and the safe predictability of a recurring schedule; the alterations that occur throughout the summer can lead to increased anxiety and stress. Now that vacations are wrapping up and school has started, we may be inclined to think that everything will automatically go back to normal. You probably know that it’s not quite that simple. I often hear parent’s saying that their family had just settled in to a good summer routine the week before it was time to go back to school.

Another Transition

Now it’s time to head back to school which brings another set of schedule fluctuations and potentially intense emotions of fear, anxiety, and stress. These feelings manifest differently, and may include:

• Inappropriate behaviors
• Fatigue
• Temporary skill regression
• Hyperactivity

Using Music to Ease the Transition

There are many ways to use music to help ease the the transition back to school. You know your child best, so take some time and think about when he or she may have the most difficulty. Is it a struggle to wake up, complete the morning routine, and get on the bus or in the car on time? Does your child need assistance processing their day or shifting from school to home? Here are some suggestions.

Create a playlist. This could work for many situations. If the morning is a struggle, create a playlist that eases your child from that groggy, half asleep state to alert and engaged. To translate this to music, the beginning of your morning soundtrack should be fairly mellow and at a slow to moderate speed. Each song should be progressively less mellow and at a moderate to quick pace. Familiar and preferred songs are recommended as they will provide extra motivation. Once you know how long it takes your child to complete their morning routine, your playlist can be that exact time. Repetition will add familiarity and comfort. Creating a playlist would also work to help cool down in preparation for bed time. This time the music should drop in speed and intensity to signal the brain and body that it is time to slow down.

Take a music break. When you get home from work or after a long day of running errands, do you immediately want to jump into house work? Just as you may need to unplug from obligations for a bit, so does your child. Between learning academic skills, improving social skills, and processing all of the new sensory information, your child may not have had the opportunity to express themselves without boundaries. Instead of withdrawing into technology (TV, iPad, YouTube), take a music break.

• Dance Party. Put on some music and just dance. Five minutes and you and your child will be smiling, laughing, and feeling rejuvenated.
• Found Instruments. Pick a place, preferably without valuables such as your child’s room or the park, and create instruments out of everyday items. Modifications could include singing familiar songs while playing your found instruments or taking turns “leading” each other to play fast, slow, loud, or quiet.
  

Are you already using music to ease transitions? What would you add to this list? I would love to hear from you in the comments.