Drumming and Communication Skills for Children

The ability to communicate effectively is one of the most important lessons a child will ever learn. Communication skills strengthen a child’s ability to identify and express needs. Effective communication skills also help children to develop connections and create positive bonds with other people. These communication skills are used in many ways by schools to measure the progress of a child throughout an educational career. Research has shown that these communication skills may be linked to music in surprising ways. The study and practice of music and rhythm can strengthen these skills. Learning to play the drums can be therapeutic, expressive, and can help children to overcome communication and language difficulties.

Drumming is an expressive exercise that depends on rhythm and patterns. Through playing the drums children learn how to be a part of a group and how to let themselves be heard as a part of that larger group. Drumming fosters a sense of connectivity through working collectively to create music. By drumming, children learn to express themselves and their emotions through the development of non-verbal communication skills. They learn the call and response patterns essential for communication and the development of language skills. They learn how to communicate, but also how to listen to others. Learning these patterns can help children learn to interact with peers, teachers and other adults. Studies have shown that adolescents who are better able to participate in rhythm exercises also have better communication and language skills. These skills are valuable in giving your child a competitive edge in school.

Music has been long been included in the education of children. Schools have included music programs as creative outlets for students and because music programs have been linked to higher academic performance. Through activities such as drumming in music classes, children can release pent up emotions and excess energy that can result from sitting still in classes all day. This release can help them to better focus throughout the day. Drumming teaches children about impulse control, decision making, sharing, taking turns, and sharing emotions in a way that feels safe. Children involved in musical programs often see the benefits not only in language skills such as reading and verbal communication, but also in other academic areas such as math, science and STEM guidelines.

Our ability to communicate effectively is perhaps one of the most important skills we can develop to ensure success in social, academic, and personal aspects of our lives. Through drumming, children can work on communication skills in a way that is fun and easy. It can help to develop these skills in children who have language and communication difficulties. Drumming has been used in many therapy groups for children with special needs with a lot of success. It has numerous benefits both inside and outside the classroom, but to a child, drumming is all about the fun.