Music and Social Skills for Young Children with Autism: A Survey of Early Childhood Educators

Year 2020, , 190 - 207, 01.07.2020

Anna Archontopoulou Potheini Vaıoulı

https://doi.org/10.24331/ijere.730328

Cited By: 5

Abstract

Children with autism may have difficulties in communicating with others, developing social
relationships and maintaining emotional reciprocity. Children’s active involvement with musical
activities may create the conditions for enhanced moments of learning and communication and it
may promote children’s sensory-motor abilities and their cognitive and emotional skills. The aim of
this study was to investigate the views of early childhood educators on the use of music as a tool for
enhancing students’ with autism social skills. Participants were 94 early childhood educators,
working at Greek public schools. The results were positive regarding the participants’ views on the
use of music as an important, instructional tool in the classroom that holds the potential to promote
social and emotional growth of young children with autism. Implication of the study pinpoint to
additional research on the topic and to professional development of early childhood educators on
the use of music.

Keywords

Autism, Music, Social Relationships

References

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