I Can’t Believe No One Is Talking About This… Helping Kids Heal With Sound
I Can’t Believe No One Is Talking About This… Helping Kids Heal With Sound
Hello, Big-Heart Beauty! Watching kids struggle with big emotions or grief can be heart-wrenching. We want so much to help them feel safe, heard, and comforted, but finding the right way to support them — especially when words fall short — can be challenging. Enter sound therapy, a gentle, creative, and healing approach that helps kids explore and process their emotions in a safe, non-verbal way.
Sound therapy is more than just making music. Using soothing, resonant sounds from instruments like singing bowls, chimes, and drums, it can help children release tension, find calm, and express themselves. Here’s why sound therapy can be so powerful for kids dealing with heavy feelings or grief, and how it can support their emotional healing journey.
1. Creates a Safe Space for Emotional Expression
Kids don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling, especially when it comes to complex emotions like sadness, loss, or grief. Sound therapy offers a gentle, non-verbal way for them to explore and express these emotions. When a child taps a drum, strikes a chime, or plays a singing bowl, they’re able to release some of the tension they’ve been holding inside.
Sound acts as an emotional “language” that lets them express what’s hard to say, whether it’s sadness, anger, or confusion. For children, this process of “sound play” can be incredibly freeing, helping them feel a little lighter with each vibration.
Try This at Home: Give your child a small drum or shaker and encourage them to “play their feelings.” Let them know it’s okay to create loud or soft sounds, fast or slow beats — whatever feels right to them in the moment.
2. Reduces Anxiety and Brings Comfort Through Calming Vibrations
Sound therapy can be incredibly soothing for children experiencing grief or anxiety. Certain tones and vibrations have a calming effect on the nervous system, helping kids relax and feel more grounded. Instruments like singing bowls and chimes create gentle sounds that seem to resonate within the body, bringing a sense of comfort and peace.
The repetitive, steady sounds of these instruments can help regulate a child’s breathing and heartbeat, reducing the physical symptoms of anxiety. This is especially helpful for children who may feel “tight” or “tense” in their bodies when they’re going through tough times. Just a few minutes of sound therapy can help them release that tension and feel more at ease.
Helpful Practice: During a quiet time, let your child sit with a small singing bowl or chime. Guide them to strike the bowl gently and listen closely as the sound fades. This helps them tune in to the present moment, bringing a calming, mindful experience to their day.
3. Builds Mindfulness and Awareness of Emotions
One of the most challenging parts of processing grief, especially for kids, is understanding and naming what they’re feeling. Sound therapy encourages kids to focus on different sounds and vibrations, helping them become more mindful and aware of their emotions. By connecting with sounds, they’re also connecting with the sensations and feelings in their bodies.
Sound therapy teaches kids to slow down, notice, and acknowledge what’s happening inside — a valuable skill for emotional resilience. Over time, this practice helps kids feel more comfortable with difficult emotions, knowing they don’t have to “fix” them right away. Instead, they can simply observe and process in their own time.
Mindfulness Tip: After a sound therapy session, ask your child how the sounds made them feel. Did a certain sound feel happy, sad, or calming? This simple question encourages them to explore and label their emotions.
4. Helps Kids Feel Connected and Supported
Processing grief can feel isolating, even for kids. Sound therapy provides an opportunity to connect with others — whether that’s through a group session, working with a caregiver, or even bonding with a parent. When kids share sound therapy with a trusted adult, they feel more supported and less alone in their experience.
Creating sounds together can be a beautiful way to bond, allowing you to “speak” through sounds without needing words. The presence of a loving adult helps children feel grounded and reminds them that they have a support system, even in the hardest times.
Connecting Through Sound: Try a family sound session. Sit together and let each person create a sound to “speak” how they’re feeling. It could be a long hum, a soft chime, or even a clap. This exercise can be comforting for kids, helping them feel seen and understood.
Getting Started with Sound Therapy at Home
Sound therapy doesn’t require fancy equipment or formal training. All you need are a few simple instruments like a small drum, chime, or even a homemade shaker (a jar filled with rice works great!). Encourage your child to play and explore these sounds in a quiet, comfortable space.
Let them take the lead and remind them that this is a safe time for any emotion they’re feeling. Sound therapy works best when kids are allowed to engage freely, knowing that every feeling — happy, sad, big, or small — is welcome.
Ready to Support Your Child’s Emotional Journey?
If you’re interested in incorporating more emotional support techniques like sound therapy into your child’s life, book a coaching session with me. Together, we can create a personalized plan to support you and your child through their feelings and grief journey. Also, 👉 Check out my guided journals for mindfulness and emotional support.
Let’s help our kids find comfort, connection, and calm as they navigate life’s big feelings. 💙🎶