Feel the Beat!

Family Adventure

GOAL:  Strengthen our Homes by using MUSIC to set a positive tone and atmosphere

The ADVENTURE:

Review the following information and then follow the steps listed below to make a family music plan for your home.

TIPS:

   Involve the whole family in determining the guidelines for music in your home.

   Once guidelines are determined, let each family member choose a few of their favorite songs to incorporate into certain parts of the day or routine. For example, let young children choose the bedtime song.

   Incorporate the family members music choices into family routines. Make music a part of your family life, and acknowledge the child's part in the process. For example, when a song that Joey picked comes on say something like, "Oh- this is a song Joey picked. It's got such a great beat! I'm glad you made sure we included this one!"

   If the budget allows let each child choose a new favorite song from whatever source you get your music from.

   Acknowledge the musicians in your family and provide an opportunity for them to perform for the family, or even out in the community.

   Include your children in the music by changing the words of songs to sing about them and the great things they do.

Music has such a powerful influence in our lives, and in our homes!  If there is one thing that can serve to unite us all in a healthy and positive manner, it's music.  This is such an easy tool to use to create harmony and bonding in the home, and yet so often we forget to use it.

We all have a favorite musical artist, song, or album, and in many cases our musical preferences can create positive bonding experiences to last a lifetime. While music has a tremendous power in its capability to bring people together, the truth is that music can actually have just as much of a profound impact on your physical internal health as well, if not even more so.

Here are just a few of the benefits of having the right kind of music in your home:

🎵 Heart Health.  Listening to your favorite type of music can help to drastically reduce stress in the body, and therefore keep the heart calm and steady.

🎵 Lowers Anxiety. When music that is well liked and well received is being played, the music can actually stabilize the rhythm of the heart beats, and can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol from being released into the body. It is important to remember, though, that you get the maximum effects and benefits from music when you are listening to music that truly speaks to you on an aesthetic level, so what works for one person may not work for someone else.

🎵 Resolve physical pain. People who suffer from acute or chronic physical pain, regardless of how it was caused, often find pain relief from listening to calming music.

🎵 Resolve mental pain. People who are dealing with depression and severe chronic anxiety often feel better after a session of listening to relaxing music. Music works with a body's natural rhythm to provide pain relief and an overall improved quality of life.

🎵 Provide peace and happiness. Music can be very uplifting at all times, and especially when you're feeling down.

🎵 Give you extra motivation.  Music can provide that extra burst of energy you need to run another mile or lift another set of weights.

🎵 Prepare you mentally before a challenge.

🎵 Give a rhythm to dance to, or provide hours of entertainment.

STEPS TO TAKE TO COMPLETE THE ADVENTURE

For this Adventure you will be making a plan to utilize music in your home to create a positive environment that supports and strengthens your family interactions:

Step 1:  Explore

Sit down together as a family and explore what types of music will help create the environment in your home you are looking for.  Here are some questions to ask:

🎶What types of music do we listen to now? What kind of effect does it have on each family member?

🎶When do we currently listen to music?  Is that enough? Too much? Is the right timing?

🎶Where do we get our music? Is that working? Are there other options?

🎶What type of music 'speaks to' the different family members?

Step 2:  Make a Plan

Develop a plan to ensure that you have the right kind of music available to create the environment you are looking for, and that all family members' needs are met. Here are some things to determine:

🎶What music will we listen to?

🎶When will we have it playing and for how long?

🎶Who will be responsible for turning the music on and off?

🎶Have we considered the needs of all family members and made a plan to accommodate everyone?

Now that you know what music will provide the best support for your family . . .

Have Fun! and

ENJOY THE MUSIC!!

Pre-K Adventure

Let little Adventurers choose between 2 songs (both approved by you, of course) to listen to. Let them push buttons on the device that’s playing the music to get it started.

Community Engagement Adventure

Use your music to serve someone else!

Here are some ideas:

🎵 Share your musical talent at a rest home or assisted living

🎵 Help a younger sibling or neighbor child learn to play an instrument

🎵 Help an older neighbor or family member to make a collection of their favorite music

🎵 Organize the music you have in your home, whether it's CD's, printed music, or whatever you have

🎵 Plan a Family Night of Music-- this could include singing around the piano, making musical instruments out of household items, dancing . . . the sky is the limit!

Most of all . . .

Enjoy the Music!!

Teen Adventure

Have your teen choose a song that adheres to family standards to listen to. Ask them why they chose that song (was it the lyrics?  the way they felt when they listened to it? the singer? etc.)

Photo Location

Take a picture of your family enjoying music together and post it to your social media sites with the hashtags #makesomemusic #MyDiscoveryDestination and #Wattson