Whether it’s to provide relaxation or to develop coordination or motor skills, playing musical instruments is a great activity for children.
Kids who have autism might find the skill beneficial, as well.
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Here are five instruments that might be good to consider, according to an article on musical-mind.com.
1. Ukulele
Strumming strings on this instrument helps develop motor control, and it has four strings compared to a full-sized guitar with six strings. The ukulele is also easier to hold than a guitar, and doesn’t produce horrible sounds if a wrong note is hit. Ukuleles also aren’t that expensive, with prices ranging from $50 to $100.
2. Recorder
Not only is this instrument easy to hold, but it’s cheap (some models are less than $10) and helps develop motor skills. It’s also a good way for children with autism to learn breathing control. High-pitched notes can be a potential problem, but if that can be harnessed, this is a strong and inexpensive instrument.
3. Xylophone/glockenspiel
Another small and inexpensive instrument (ranging from $50 to $100), this helps kids with autism develop impulse control and hand-eye coordination.
4. Trumpet
With only three keys, there's an advantage here. The trumpet also helps develop breathing control and has a unique sound that appeals to kids, particularly older ones who want to get into the band at school.
5. Bongos
Simply hitting bongos can be a good way to enjoy the sound and work off some energy. But if there’s a desire to get more in-depth, learning to play them along to music develops hand-eye coordination and motor skills. A sense of movement and rhythm can especially be developed with bongos, which can be played sitting down or standing up.
This story was first published in 2019. It has since been updated.