Music therapy plays a crucial role in helping children communicate. Often, when a parent steps away for a moment, they can return to unexpected scenes. For instance, when Sarah Johnson asked her 10-year-old daughter, Emma, to keep an eye on her younger brother, Noah, she was pleasantly surprised to find them sharing an adorable singing moment.
The joy of siblings bonding can bring a smile to any parent’s face, and Emma’s talent suggests she might even have a future in music. However, it’s the context shared by Sarah in her video post that has captured the hearts of over 34 million viewers. She wrote: “Without her guitar, I wonder if she’d know how to engage with him. This is her magic tool.”
Noah, who is 24 months old and has a limited vocabulary of just 12 words, has learned every one of them through music. He has Down Syndrome, and their family was initially warned by doctors that he may not speak until he was at least three. Thanks to Emma’s musical influence, that narrative has changed.
Both Sarah and her husband are passionate musicians, a love they pass on to their children. Emma began playing guitar at the age of five, and she recently noticed Noah echoing the word “happy” while she strummed along—his very first spoken word. Through these musical interactions, Noah’s vocabulary has blossomed, expanding to a dozen words.
In another heartfelt post on her social media, Sarah shared the significance of the song “You Are My Sunshine” to their family. Beyond being one of Noah’s favorite tunes, it served as a source of comfort during a challenging time. After undergoing heart surgery in Spring 2016, “You Are My Sunshine” became Noah’s personal anthem. Sarah and her husband sang this song to him nightly in preparation for the surgery, and during his hospital stay, they received special permission to bring a guitar to soothe him. “This was when he first responded,” Sarah recalled. “It was amazing to see him react to the familiarity of our voices and the song.”
This experience solidified the importance of music in their lives. “We truly feel like he’s beating the odds,” Sarah stated. “Emma’s determination to use music therapy has made all the difference. We couldn’t be prouder of our kids.”
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In summary, the power of music is evident in how it has transformed Noah’s ability to communicate, showcasing the profound impact of sibling support and creativity in overcoming obstacles.