Summertime, and the Living is….. Stressful?
For students and their families, summer is a time for change. Summer can mean sleeping in, family vacations, relaxation, summer camps, and time outside enjoying the sun. However, summer can also mean changes in routine, high expectations, ever-changing schedules, boredom, and time away from school friends. If you or your children are having mixed feelings about the new season- you are not alone!
Want to learn more? Click the button below to learn stress relieving tips from certified Neurologic Music Therapist, Amber Miller!
Thankfully, music can be a wonderful tool for relieving stress, supporting new routines, and spending time together as a family. Read on for a few ideas on how you can use music this summer for yourself and your family- no skill or experience required!
Relieving Stress
- Find a drum, cooking pot, or paint bucket and some sticks, and drum away to your favorite high-energy song. Song suggestions: “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC, “Geronimo” by Sheppard, or “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor
- Use music for meditation! Find some instrumental music, or look up meditation playlists, for something that calms your nerves and relaxes your body. As you sit or lie in a comfy spot, focus on your breath. As other thoughts may creep into your mind, you can notice them and let them go, returning your attention back to your breath. Use this time to be kind to yourself. You can also turn your attention to an encouraging word or phrase such as “peace,” “gratitude,” or “I am enough.”
Supporting New Routines
- Need to get cleaned up and out of the house on time? Choose a song to play as a designated “clean up” song. When your kids hear it, they have until the end of the song to clean up and be ready at the door to leave. Prepare some kind of reward if they succeed, such as a piece of candy, first pick of a song to listen to in the car, or the chance to play 5 minutes of an electronic game in the car. You can use music as a timer for other routines throughout the day as well!
- If you are trying to teach little ones to be more independent with complex tasks, you can make up a song to help them remember the steps! Here is an example for a song about brushing teeth, set to the tune of “Row Row Row Your Boat”:
When it’s time to brush my teeth, and get them squeaky clean,
I hold my brush and my toothpaste, and squeeze a little pea
Then I add a bit of water, and the brush goes in my mouth,
I’ll scrub scrub scrub my teeth, circling all around
Scrub scrub scrub my teeth, until the song is done
Scrub scrub scrub my teeth, don’t miss a single one!
*You can repeat the song to focus on different areas, or set a certain number of repeats to time for 1-2 minutes of brushing
Family Time
- Get moving as a family! Movement is a great way to relieve stress, get fit, and make memories with your loved ones. There are several dance-based video games, and free videos online with easy dance routines for any level and music preference. You can also check around your community for movement classes, like Zumba, that are open to a variety of age and experience levels. Some instructors even offer virtual classes so you can participate from home!
- Looking for a way to bond with your family and learn more about each other? Have everyone create a playlist with their favorite songs. Then, take turns playing a song from each person’s list while everyone listens together. You can talk about why you like the song, what it reminds you of, or what memories you have when you hear it. You may be surprised what kind of conversation this can spark!
I am a strong believer in the power of music, and its benefits for our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. I hope you have found an idea from this list helpful to you and your family!
If you have any questions about private lessons or music therapy, feel free to reach out to us at info@oconeemusic.com or amber@nurturingnotesmt.com.
Have a wonderful summer!
Amber Miller, LMPT, MT-BC
Neurologic Music Therapist
