The Virtual Music Social Skills program is a nine-week, multi-component music platform designed to improve the emotional understanding and social skills of children, and is suggested for children with a developmental profile consistent with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Music captivates children with its hands-on learning environment and variety of rhythm and songs. Each session provides movement, composition, singing, playing instruments, and is designed to help children learn new social and emotional skills in a fun environment.
Parents/guardians will receive information and strategies to help young ‘musicians’ develop and practice new skills at home and at school during the parent/guardian information session.
Topics of instruction
- Impulse control, taking turns and waiting
- Following instructions
- Talking and playing with others
- Joining in conversations and activities with others
- Labelling emotions
- Developing an understanding of how situations make them feel
- Identifying appropriate strategies to manage unpleasant emotions
- Solving social problems
Participation requirements
- Child must have a developmental profile consistent with ASD
- Child is able to attend weekly in-person sessions for a nine-week period
- Caregiver must be able to attend one parent/guardian session (date to be confirmed)
- Demonstrates emerging social skills and an interest in building relationships with same-aged peers or peers with common interests
The program will be fully subsidized by the SCDSB and facilitated by Music Therapy Services of Simcoe County Music Therapists.