A Rhythmic Ocean Walk on the Beach stimulated the senior champions during an energizing, engaging and empowering Music Therapy themed session today, We were also joined with the children of the Family Focus preschool for an Intergenerational Music Therapy program.
The seniors began the session with a deep breathing opening wellness exercise. Then the children joined us, were randomly paired with seniors to play the sand blocks together as we “Welcomed Back” to the Tune “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.”
It was wonderful seeing the connections and team work take place between the senior and child!
The colorful parachute was introduced and the seniors raised, lowered, created ocean waves, over the children. We also sang “We are glad to be here” to the tune “Yellow Submarine.” The children loved reaching to touch the parachute as it was lowered and created a breeze! We then sang our special good bye song and the children returned to their classroom. What energy, excitement, and creativity this program has facilitated in building bridges to connect these two generations.
Then the seniors enjoyed a rhythmic walk on the beach with drums, ocean drums, sea shell castanets, rain sticks, wooden frogs, and chimes. They shared ways to “tip-toe, walk, stomp, jog, run and sprint” with their drums. Then seniors discussed things they like to do on the beach … the favorite answer was to “lay in the sun” … which was incorporated into a rhythmic “On the beach, the sandy beach, we like to lay in the sun” to the tune “When the Lion Sleeps Tonight.” We closed with a wellness exercise to the instrumental song “Summer Child.”
We were honored to have guests from the National Lutheran Community and Services in attendance to participate and feel the excitement, enthusiasm and JOY! Reflective comments included: “so calming, relaxed, rejuvenated, exhilarated, refreshed, wonderful and energized.” #luvservingwithmusic
