If you are considering autism movement therapy for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), keep reading this article to learn about what it is, its benefits, and the primary purpose of this fun, unique, and engaging form of therapy.
What is autism movement therapy (AMT)?
Autism movement therapy (AMT) is an autism treatment method that revolves around music and dancing. It may be relied on to teach children with autism how to improve their motor skills, sensory functions, and other capabilities.
At a session, the therapist and your child may engage in one or more of the following activities:
- Dancing to music.
- Discuss and plan different dance moves and rhythms.
- In group settings, kids may take turns playing different musical instruments or work together on performing a certain tone or song.
These activities require your child to use their body, communicate (both verbally and nonverbally), and memorize dance moves or musical notes. Because of this, autism movement and dance therapy can have plenty of academic, communicative, sensory, and psychological benefits.
Benefits of Autism Movement Therapy
Here are some of the main benefits that your son or daughter will attain through autism movement therapy sessions:
- It stimulates the brain.
- This therapeutic method assists children with ASD with developing communication and motor skills.
- AMT enhances autistic kids’ sensory processes.
- Movement and dance therapy addresses and manages behavioral problems that are associated with ASD.
- Perhaps most noteworthy, AMT shows children with autism how to have fun.
All of these benefits help serve the primary purpose of autism movement and dance therapy.
What is the core purpose of dance therapy?
There are several goals and objectives that movement and dance therapists try to achieve. A lot of them are related to the individual needs of the child on the autism spectrum that they’re seeing.
In other words, when you initially take your child to see a therapist, they will evaluate their condition and personal challenges. After that, the therapist works with you on creating a custom treatment plan for your son or daughter.
Generally speaking, one of the main purposes of movement and dance therapy is to allow autistic patients to experience a sense of joy, happiness, fulfillment, and overall well being. This is particularly important for children with ASD that suffer from depression and other related mental conditions.
Another goal behind these treatment sessions is to heal and help patients manage the debilitating symptoms of autism.
Examples include finding healthy ways to stimulate the brain, refining their bodily balance and coordination, building up their motor skills, and strengthening the connection between the brain and the rest of the body.
why movement is important for children with autism
Movement is crucial for children with autism for a variety of reasons. To begin with, movement difficulties can greatly impact the daily life of an autistic child and it’s often an area that needs more recognition and support.
When examining general movement abilities, autistic children may show signs of ataxia – less orderly muscular coordination and abnormal movements. They often have difficulties with posture, coordination, and motor planning. This makes incorporating physical activities into their daily routine essential for their health and well-being.
Therapies like Autism Movement Therapy can be beneficial as they stimulate the brain and assist in developing communication skills5. Specific exercises, such as bear crawls, are also recommended to promote coordination.
Moreover, autistic children may show differences in movement planning and execution, reinforcing the idea that movement disturbances may be a characteristic of autism.
Lastly, play, which involves a lot of movement, is essential for autistic children. Not only do they enjoy it, but they also learn through it.
So, movement plays a multifaceted role in the development and well-being of children with autism. It aids in their physical health, coordination, communication, and learning abilities.
To give a brief summary, autism movement and dance therapy is a fun, unique, and engaging treatment method for minimizing and managing ASD symptoms. It will allow your child to get better at communicating, reaching their academic goals, staying balanced when they move their body, and in other areas of their life.
If you are ready to work with the best Applied Behavior Analysis therapy provider in New York or New Jersey, give us a call at (732) 402-0297. Our dedicated team is ready to help and we will treat you like family.
