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Impact of Music Therapy to Promote Positive Parenting and Child Development

Griffith University, Australia, jan.nicholson{at}mcri.edu.au

Donna Berthelsen

Queensland University of Technology, Australia

Vicky Abad

Sing and Grow, Playgroup Association of Queensland, Australia

Kate Williams

Sing and Grow, Playgroup Association of Queensland, Australia

Julie Bradley

Queensland University of Technology, Australia

The effectiveness of a 10-week group music therapy program for marginalized parents and their children aged 0—5 years was examined. Musical activities were used to promote positive parent—child relationships and children's behavioral, communicative and social development. Participants were 358 parents and children from families facing social disadvantage, young parents or parents of a child with a disability. Significant improvements were found for therapist-observed parent and child behaviors, and parent-reported irritable parenting, educational activities in the home, parent mental health and child communication and social play skills. This study provides evidence of the potential effectiveness of music therapy for early intervention.

Key Words: child development • early intervention • music therapy • parenting • social disadvantage

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