THE EFFECTS OF AN INTEGRATED EARLY-CHILDHOOD MUSIC PROGRAM ON SOCIAL-INTERACTION AMONG CHILDREN WITH HANDICAPS AND THEIR TYPICAL PEERS

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an integrated early childhood music program on social interaction among children with handicaps and their typical peers. A field test was conducted with 15 students (âge 4) from a typical preschool, and 12 students (âges 3 to 5) with mod- erate levels of mental retardation from a county develop- mental center. The children came together once weekiy at the typical preschool for integrated music sessions. For 15 sessions following the prétests, the music therapis t employed spécifie strategies to foster interaction. A trend analysis in- dicated that interaction among the children increased following the music therapy intervention phase. A questionnaire was submitted to the five staff members invoived with the Project; ail agreed that the program had facilitated peer interaction and had fostered acceptance of différences among individuais. © 1991, by the National Association for Music Therapy, Inc.