Kids are so smart. I am often blown away when I can step back from my parenting, adult, teacher mind and really look at what a child is intuitively driven to do — and why.
Music is second nature to children because our human brains have a fundamental need for rhythm. They easily let their bodies move and are fully present with the beat, letting themselves live it. Kids also naturally gravitate towards banging on stuff. You know, pots and pans as a toddler, using sticks against things outside as they get older, etc. They like to feel a beat in their bodies, often relaxing into it — where for us, it can sound pretty torturous!
However, drumming is deeply human and has been used by indigenous peoples for centuries. Science today has shed light on why drumming has been used by human beings for so long, and its healing properties are fascinating.
Lynn Wozniak of Sweet Medicine Drums (the maker of my beautiful drum in the photo) writes, “a new study by Barry Quinn PhD., a clinical psychologist specializing in neuro-feedback for stress management, indicates that drumming for brief periods of time actually changes a person’s brainwave patterns, dramatically reducing stress. He calls the results of 30-40 minutes of drumming on his highest stress clients ‘by far the most amazing results I’ve encountered thus far in my research.’ “
Our human brains have a fundamental need for rhythm. Long known in the field of music therapy, drumming produces Alpha brainwave patterns, a mental relaxation state also commonly referred to as the genius state. When we can be in Alpha, we are more creative, empathetic, compassionate, innovative in our problem solving, more easily able to collaborate — you get the idea.
When we are stressed, Alpha brainwaves are inhibited. We are unable to be in touch with our selves and our hearts, and fear runs most of our decisions whether we’re conscious of it or not.
Drumming is a simple and fun act we can incorporate into our family’s life. It reduces stress and we are doing something fun together! Kids can come up with their own beats and the parents can follow along. This gives so much creative agency to them — which they need and thrive on — while they’re also feeling really good with us. This strengthens their attachment connection to us parents, and us to our kids. As a family, it brings our kids back into a feel-good space with us, outside of stress of today’s world and the day to day.