Teen Mother and Child Experiences in a Parent-Child Music Program

Abstract

In this paper, we outline the rationale and growing research base for parent-child music programs as a means to strengthen caregiver-child bonding, with particular interest in positively impacting the lives of adolescent mothers and their infants. Secondary schools that offer daycare and parenting classes are ideal sites for delivering parent-child music programs, and music educators are well situated to become involved in such initiatives.

Application of Music Therapy in Promoting Maternal Attachment and Self-perceived Parental Competence in Mothers at Risk

“…Terapijski postupci koji podupiru razvoj privrženosti u odnosu majka -dojenče jačaju čimbenike koji moraju biti prisutni kod majke za dostatnu emocionalnu i fizičku sigurnost djeteta, ako sigurna privrženost nije prisutna. Ti čimbenici su: dostatno snažan osjećaj selfa i odvojenog identiteta od djeteta, prilika i sposobnost za iniciranje, ponavljanje i zadržavanje pozitivne interakcije koja stvara privrženost, dostatna dosljednost u takvim interakcijama, sposobnost majke da regulira svoje emocije, kognitivne sposobnosti majke da stvara uspomene i priče koje će podijeliti s djetetom te sposobnost da zamisli sebe i svoje dijete u budućnosti (8). Važan element imaju i roditeljske vještine koje se razvijaju vremenom te je potrebno primijeniti one postupke koji pomažu majkama da ih lakše usvoje (8).…”

“…Therapeutic approaches that support the development of attachment in the mother-infant relationship reinforce the factors that must be present in the mother for sufficient emotional and physical security of the child, if safe attachment is not present. These factors are: a sufficiently strong sense of self and separate identity from the child, opportunity and ability to initiate, repeat, and retain positive interaction that creates attachment, sufficient consistency in such interactions, the mother's ability to regulate her emotions, the mother's cognitive ability to create memories and stories to share with her child, and the ability to imagine herself and her child in the future (8). Parenting skills that develop over time are also an important element, and approaches that help mothers to adopt them more easily need to be applied (8).…”

“…These factors are: a sufficiently strong sense of self and separate identity from the child, opportunity and ability to initiate, repeat, and retain positive interaction that creates attachment, sufficient consistency in such interactions, the mother's ability to regulate her emotions, the mother's cognitive ability to create memories and stories to share with her child, and the ability to imagine herself and her child in the future (8). Parenting skills that develop over time are also an important element, and approaches that help mothers to adopt them more easily need to be applied (8). All of these factors are strongly linked to the process of developing a secure attachment.…”