Creative Therapy Adelaide

26/10/2026

The end of a music session can be just as important as the beginning.

Closing and relaxation songs can help create a sense of predictability and support children to gradually bring their energy down before moving on to the next activity.

For some children, that can make it easier to transition into something that requires more attention, like sitting for a story or joining group time.

Music can help create that bridge between being active and being ready to settle.

Natalie explains the concept here.

23/10/2026

Pauses are so important!

Stopping the music, leaving out a familiar word or simply waiting can create an opportunity for someone to respond in their own way.

That response might be a beat on a drum, a shift in body language, a sound, a word or something much smaller.

At home, parents can try the same idea with a familiar song: pause before a word you know your child recognises and give them time to respond.

The goal isn’t to test them or put pressure on them.

It’s simply to create space for communication and participation to happen.

19/10/2026

Congratulations to Dr Zara Thompson on being named Music Therapist of the Year at the 2026 Allied Health Awards!

We were also thrilled to celebrate our team members Rina and Natalie as finalists. Zara is a passionate advocate for music therapy and has led inspiring work supporting people living with dementia.

We’re honoured to celebrate her dedication and outstanding contribution to the field

13/10/2026

Children love putting on sunscreen! Just joking!

Imagine one of those moments where the children are having a great time, then suddenly it’s time to stop and put sunscreen on...and nobody is excited about that!

So we turn it into a song.

By singing through the routine, it becomes more playful, more predictable and easier to move through together.

Music doesn’t have to be complicated to be useful. Sometimes it can simply help make a difficult transition feel a little more manageable.

09/10/2026

Music can become a powerful cue for what happens next.

A familiar song can signal that it’s time to wind down, transition or get ready for a routine without needing lots of extra instructions.

Over time, children can begin to associate a melody with what’s coming next, things like bedtime, quiet time or the end of an activity.

That predictability can make routines feel more familiar and easier to move through.

Sometimes the song itself becomes the signal.

07/10/2026

Good Luck ☘️ to Natalie and Rina, two of Creative Therapy Adelaide's dedicated Registered Music Therapists who are finalists in the 2026 Allied Health Awards for Music Therapist of the Year.

The Awards will be revealed this Saturday 10/10 at the awards Gala at Adelaide Oval, making it even more special that this year it is hosted in our home town!

It is such an impressive pool of music therapists this year, and we are so proud of them!

07/10/2026

Sounding like an "old record" is great!

There’s nothing wrong with repeating the same song again and again!

In fact, repetition can give children the time they need to understand what’s happening, practise the words and actions and gradually build confidence.

A familiar action song might start with one small response, like a clap.

Over time, that same child may begin joining in with more actions, singing parts of the song and showing that they know what comes next.

Repetition creates opportunities for practise, mastery and then something new to happen.

02/10/2026

Confidence in a group doesn’t usually appear all at once.

It can grow through familiar routines, repeated activities and knowing what’s coming next.

In a music group, children may be practising turn taking, shared attention, following a routine, noticing their peers and learning how to participate alongside others.

That predictability is exactly what creates the sense of safety!

01/10/2026

24/09/2026

Tempo can have a big impact on how music feels in the body.

Some music can feel calming and settling, while other sounds, rhythms or tempos can feel more activating or overwhelming.

That’s why there isn’t one type of music that will work for every child or every group.

It’s about paying attention to each individual

the tempo
the instruments
the intensity of the sound

and noticing how they respond.

Over time, those observations can also help children build awareness of their own responses to sound and begin to recognise what helps them feel comfortable and regulated