The Power of Music & Art in Pediatric Home Care
Music and art are incredibly powerful tools that Pediatric Home Care Nurses can use when caring for medically fragile children. Here are some ways to incorporate music and art as a therapeutic practice in nursing care.
What is Music and Art Therapy?
Music therapy is the approach where the naturally mood-lifting properties of music are used to help people improve their mental health and overall well-being. Art therapy is a technique where creative expression can foster healing and mental well-being.
The Benefits of Music and Art Therapy
Music and art therapy can positively impact medically fragile children, supporting a child’s physical and emotional well-being in the following ways:
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Improving mood
- Boosting communication
- Encouraging movement
- Allowing for emotional expression
- Building confidence
- Improving fine motor skills
- Fostering imagination
How to Incorporate Music in Care
You don’t need to be a musician to incorporate music or music therapy in nursing. However, it can be helpful to seek music therapy workshops or training that can offer specific strategies to help your patients. Incorporating music into your nursing practice includes playing soft, calming music during procedures or check-ups, singing your patient’s favorite song with them, or promoting the learning of a new musical skill like the piano or the guitar. You can even involve parents, caregivers, and siblings, letting them sing, hum, or play music with their child in the home.
How to Incorporate Art in Care
You don’t need to be an artist to incorporate art or art therapy into your nursing practice, but you still may want to find classes that will give you tips and best practices that you can use with your patients.
Before you can start making art, set up an easy-to-clean area in your patient’s home where they will feel comfortable expressing themselves. Make sure you have the right tools, whether it’s pencils, pens, crayons, or water-based paint. Then, let the patient write, paint, or color what they want. If the child is struggling to create anything, provide them with different prompts or questions that might inspire them. This can also be a collaborative process where you lend your creative talents to the patient’s masterpiece. Once the art has been created, allow your patient the chance to reflect on their work and any emotions or memories that it evoked.
Music and art can help ease your patient’s health journey, giving them the chance to relax and express themselves. Discover how Thrive SPC continues to help children express themselves and grow to their full potential through high-quality care by heading to https://www.thrivespc.com/.
