Does Music Therapy Help Gross Motor Skills in Children? | Houston, TX

Thera+Kids is a multidisciplinary pediatric clinic providing testing and therapy for children and their families in Bellaire, Texas, and the greater Houston area. This unique community clinic utilizes a holistic approach to childhood development through therapies for social learning, occupational, music, and speech & language. Thera+Kids incorporates creative and unique approaches to helping children grow and adapt, including development of gross motor skills through music therapy.

Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skill development in children involves movements and functions of large muscles in the body, including the arms, legs, and torso. Children display development and growth in gross motor skills through learning to sit upright, walk, run, and even kick. Gross motor skills involve daily functions of children such as getting dressed, climbing in and out of bed, sitting on the toilet, and other coordinated skills. These also include climbing a playground or throwing a ball back and forth with a friend.

Sometimes children may need additional assistance in successfully developing their gross motor skills. For example, learning to sit and hold themselves up at the dinner table is a transferrable skill in being able to sit at a desk in a school classroom. Many times, delays in gross motor skill development can resolve on their own over time. However, it can be beneficial for the child to participate in a form of therapy to help with gross motor skill development.

Music Therapy

Music therapy is part of the allied health profession and music therapists at Thera+Kids work with children and their families to improve physical functions and motor skills. The goal of music therapy is not to teach someone how to write or perform music; in fact, music therapy does not require any musical skill or knowledge.

Techniques in music therapy use music, rhythm, beats, and dancing to help children develop and strengthen their muscles, increase their fine and gross motor skills, increase their range of motion, and also improve communication skills. Dancing and moving along to the music in a variety of ways is one common way to engage children therapeutically while developing gross motor skills.