Lauren S. Aaronson Frontiers Pilot Awardee - Kai Ling Kong
By Kelly Hale, Marketing & Communications Specialist
Feb 19, 2024
Kai Ling Kong, Ph.D., MS, Children’s Mercy Kansas City
Pilot Study Title: A community-based music enrichment program to address health and developmental during early childhood
Having early parent/child interactions is important in the overall development of a child. Two early indicators of long-term health concerns are obesity and language-delay, which are prevalent among children from historically marginalized families, and many of whom are also of low socioeconomic status. Families who fall in this category often have fewer high-quality parent/child interactions due to parental stress and limited social support resources. Music is engaging and can present a social experience between parent and child. Community-based music programs are available in many communities and are valued benefits, but barriers such as cost, and location can prevent families being able to utilize these resources.
“Through community partners like Base Academy of Music and Operation Breakthrough, along with the Children’s Mercy Pediatric Clinic, who primarily serve low socioeconomic families, we plan to recruit infants between 9 – 15 months to participate in a six-month music enrichment program or play date control group,” Kong said. “Our aim is to show the benefits of music engagement at a young age on healthy growth and development.”
Since music programs are available in many communities, this may be an ideal multi-targeted intervention strategy. Music has also been associated with other benefits regardless of risk factors and may help break down stigmas associated with the need for intervention among low socioeconomic families. If successful, this work can contribute to the understanding of how researchers, clinicians and policymakers can leverage music enrichment programs to promote optimal child outcomes for high-risk families.
Kelly Hale
Marketing & Communications Specialist
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