LEARNING WITH MUSIC

Home Visitors Use Various Techniques To Incorporate Music As A Mediator To Stimulate Child Development

Activities involving musical stimuli that use different tools and practices were essential for engaging the children and their development. Susiele Aparecida da Silva Oliveira (home visitor in Riolândia/SP) realized that the pandemic could be a good opportunity to create real connections in everyday life through music. Together with her team, she carried out a musical experience training, which enabled new strategies for encouraging families to use music to stimulate child development and strengthen the caregiver-child bonds. "This practice impacted the families’ lives. I received reports from mothers who didn't sing to their children because they said the child didn’t like it. But, after my guidance, one of the mothers commented that she tried at a quieter time, and both of them now love to sing, and the child asks her mother to sing for her every day,” celebrated Susiele.

Mayara Cristina Fagundes Martins (home visitor in Arujá/SP) used music to help stimulate a child's speech. The home visitor sent tips and exercises through messages that focused on speech and communication for the family to carry out with the child. The visitor used the knowledge she acquired in an undergraduate course in psychology to help. The mother recorded a feedback video performing the musical activities and exercises Mayara had proposed and reported that there has been significant progress. “While making home visits, I have noticed that music has generally helped to strengthen the bond between caregivers and children and broadened child development,” Mayara explained.

In the age-appropriate videos she sent to families with suggested activities, Taona Natalina de Almeida Rocha (home visitor in Piracicaba/SP) always stressed how involving music helps children's development and how the simple act of singing strengthens bonds. “We made some playful and musical videos so mothers could use with their children and then tell us how the child reacted to the activity,” said Taoana.

Fabiano Nunes da Silva (home visitor in Arapiraca/AL) used a cell phone app to maintain an open channel with mothers or guardians so that they could continue developing activities with their children. Silva proposed interventions using music and materials commonly available at home.

“Some activities I proposed for the families were: bowling with plastic bottles or milk cans, making soap bubbles, and singing songs about body parts or animal sounds,” explained Fabiano.