Integrating drumming into a classroom for special needs students can be a beneficial way for therapists, teachers and students to connect on a level that helps improve communication, collaboration and increase cognition and attention within a regular classroom. With the various delays and struggles that special needs kids face in schools, a new and exciting way to communicate with these children can make a huge difference in the learning and social experiences they face.

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For children with special needs, drumming can be a powerful tool to help them address:

• Social Needs. Drumming often occurs as a collaborative, interactive process. If facilitated correctly, participating in drumming experiences can help a child work on skills such as turn-taking and sharing, as well as help them feel they are part of a group contributing towards a group process.

• Communication Needs. Playing a drum or percussion instrument can be a useful way to communicate nonverbally and to “listen” to another person’s nonverbal communication.

• Fine and Gross Motor Skills. This may almost seem self-evident, but different playing techniques can be used to help work on different fine and gross motor skills. This can even be true for developing lower extremity strength (e.g. imagine standing and playing a large conga drum).

• Emotional Needs. Participating in a drumming activity can help a child feel safe enough to express his/her feelings. Additionally–and speaking from experience–there’s nothing much better for releasing anger than banging on a drum.

• Cognitive Needs. By participating in a drumming experience, children can be working on attention, impulse control, and decision-making skills.

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