Sing Away the Blues: The Power of Music on Mental Health in the Early Years

New Year often brings new resolutions as we evaluate what has gone well or could be improved in our lives. The day on which travel agents have found that most people look for or book holidays is now unofficially called “Blue Monday”, coinciding with the end of festivities, and the return to school and work. This year, we also have the impact of COVID-19 restrictions, so instead of singing the blues, we’ll give you reasons and ways to sing away the blues, along with a fantastic musical give-away for your setting!

Research from Mastnak (2020) identified 4 phases of impact that natural disasters had on children’s mental health.

• Acute phase: lockdowns/closures trigger acute stress or adjustments including insomnia, paranoid traits, disruptive behaviour, fear and suicide
• Subacute phase: living an adapted lifestyle for a few years led to unhealthy habits, ongoing anxiety, delusional ideas, post-traumatic stress disorder, and regressed development, personal growth, and cognitive factors (concentration, motivation)
• Post-traumatic phase: + 3 years after the initial event, resulting in self-protective attitudes/personality features, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depressive/avoidant personality traits
• Effect phase: children may remain symptom-free for decades until adulthood, where the effects could impact the mind and harm quality of life

To counteract these effects, our aim is to help children to learn to regulate their own emotions and immunological health. Medical evidence shows that music positively influences the immune system, benefiting everybody. Singing therapy is already used for respiratory issues like asthma and COPD, while music therapy develops inner calm, rebalances psychosomatic conditions, reduces stress and breaks through obsessive compulsive disorder structures. Analytic and expressive arts transform traumatic events, helping both shy and hostile personalities, while community music therapy improves group immune systems and develops mindfulness.

Practical pointers supporting children through traumatic events:

1. Positive and negative attitudes depend on the child’s culture, personality, changes, and perceptions of the anticipated future; vulnerable children can be supported in modifying thinking through reassurance and routine.

Mummy loves and daddy loves (Russian lullaby)

Mummy loves and daddy loves and
Everybody loves little baby
Brother loves and sister loves and
Everybody loves little baby

With younger infants, two adults hold either end of a blanket (like a hammock) gently rock the child. Older children can use small blankets or scarves to gently rock a cuddly toy or doll.

2. Children may exhibit new conditions including social phobias, self-imposed withdrawal, personality disorders, emotionally cold, detached, inappropriate paranoia of contamination by others. Musical games involving nearby, appropriate contact help to refocus and reprioritise personal safe space.

Old Brass Wagon

Circle to the left, old brass wagon
Circle to the left, old brass wagon
Circle to the left, old brass wagon
You’re the one, my darling 

Circle to the right, old brass wagon …
Everybody down, old brass wagon …
Everybody in, old brass wagon…

In a circle, perform the actions – walk to the left/right/stand up and crouch down/walk towards the middle and out – and for the final line, point across (“you’re the one”) and hug yourself (“my darling”).