Feelings in Music: Helping Kids Express Big Emotions Through Sound

Feelings in Music: Helping Kids Express Big Emotions Through Sound

Some children struggle to put their feelings into words—but music? Music speaks directly to the heart. Whether your child is over

Some children struggle to put their feelings into words—but music? Music speaks directly to the heart. Whether your child is overwhelmed, joyful, angry, or simply needing to release some energy, music becomes a beautiful bridge between what's felt and what's expressed. The “Feelings in Music” activity is a creative and regulating experience that uses rhythm, sound, and movement to help children explore and release emotions safely. And you don’t need to be a musician or therapist to do it—just a loving presence.

🧠 Why This Activity Works

• Engages the Whole Brain – activating emotional, creative, and sensory centers

• Externalizes Emotions – making it easier to process feelings without words

• Promotes Healthy Self-Expression – giving your child tools to share what’s inside

• Regulates the Nervous System – using rhythm and vibration to soothe and balance

🎼 How to Do the “Feelings in Music” Activity

Materials Needed:

• A phone or speaker to play music

• Instruments like a drum, shaker, xylophone, or even pots and pans

• Open space for movement

• Optional: drawing supplies for reflection afterward

Step 1: Name the Feeling

Start with:

“Let’s explore some feelings through music! Pick a feeling you’ve had this week.”

You can offer examples like:

• Angry

• Happy

• Scared

• Silly

• Lonely

• Excited

Let your child choose one or more feelings they’ve experienced.

Step 2: Match the Music

Play short clips that represent different moods:

🎻 Slow piano or cello = Sadness or Calm🥁 Fast percussion or drumming = Anger or High Energy🎺 Upbeat jazz or pop = Happiness or Silliness🎹 Minor key or eerie sounds = Fear or Worry

Ask your child:

• “Does this sound like your feeling?”

• “What would your feeling sound like?”

Let them create their own music using instruments, found objects, or kid-friendly apps like Chrome Music Lab or GarageBand.

Step 3: Move the Feeling

Say:“Let’s move how this music makes you feel.”

Invite expressive movement:

• Angry: stomp, punch the air, shake

• Sad: slow arms, slouch, crawl

• Happy: jump, dance, spin

• Worried: tiptoe, curl up, wiggle fingers

There’s no right or wrong here—just whole-body expression.

Step 4: Reflect with Art or Words

Afterward, gently explore:

• “What did that music help your body feel?”

• “Did your feelings change when the music changed?”

• “Want to draw what your music feeling looked like?”

Your child might draw their emotion, write lyrics, or simply cuddle their instrument. Let their imagination lead the way.

How Music & Expressive Arts Therapy Help Kids Heal and Grow

At Rocky Mountain Art & Play Center, we often meet children who feel so much—but don’t always have the words to say it. That’s where music and expressive arts therapy come in. These creative tools give kids a safe outlet to express what’s happening inside—especially when big feelings, trauma, ADHD, anxiety, or communication challenges get in the way of talking.

Here’s how the magic unfolds:

🎵 Why Music and Art Therapy Work So Well for Kids

1. Emotions Come Out—Even Without WordsSometimes feelings are just too big or too confusing to explain. But kids can show us through color, sound, or movement.A child might pound a drum to release anger, or gently swirl pastel colors across paper to show sadness or calm.

2. It Calms the Brain and BodyRhythm and creativity help regulate the nervous system. Whether it’s a steady beat or repetitive brushstrokes, these soothing patterns help slow heart rate, ease anxiety, and bring kids back to center.

3. It Builds Awareness From the Inside OutAs kids create, they start to notice things about themselves:“Why do I always draw storms when I feel mad?” or “This music feels like my worry.”With gentle support, these insights become stepping stones to emotional growth.

4. Confidence Grows With Every CreationWhen a child finishes a painting or masters a rhythm, they light up with pride. They realize they can do hard things—and that what they feel matters.

5. Trust is Built Through Creating TogetherThere’s something powerful about making art or music side-by-side. Kids feel less pressure, more connection. For children who struggle with attachment or trust, this shared space becomes a bridge.

6. Trauma is Processed Gently and SafelyArt and music can hold stories that feel too overwhelming to say out loud. A child might write a song or paint a picture that says, “This is what it feels like,” without needing to relive the pain.

7. Communication and Connection ImproveIn group sessions, kids learn to listen, take turns, and share space with others. It’s a playful, supportive way to practice social skills—especially helpful for kids with autism or social anxiety.

✨ What It Can Look Like:

• A child with separation anxiety creates a special “safe song” to hum at school when they miss home.

• A child with ADHD channels energy through a drum circle or dance, learning rhythm and focus.

• A child healing from trauma paints a picture of their “inside self” and “outside self,” slowly building understanding and safety.

At its heart, expressive arts therapy isn’t about making perfect art or music—it’s about helping kids feel seen, heard, and safe. And from that place, healing begins.

🌟 Pro Tip: Make a “Feelings Playlist” Together

Choose songs with your child that match emotions like mad, sad, scared, and happy. Keep the playlist handy for tough mornings, after-school decompressing, or calming bedtime routines.

✨ Final Words for Parents

You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need all the right words.What your child needs most is you—your calm, your presence, your willingness to show up again and again, even when things feel hard.

By offering simple, safe, and creative ways to express emotions, you're helping your child become more self-aware and emotionally resilient.

That’s powerful. And beautiful. You’re doing important, loving work.

📥 Bonus Resource: Download & Print the Toolkit

Includes:

• 🌀 Emotional Check-In Chart

• 🎨 Feelings Wheel

• 🌈 Calming Strategy Menu (Printable Poster)

• 🧘‍♀️ Grounding Exercises Handout

From the heart of Rocky Mountain Art and Play Center for Kids and Parents Emotional Support and Coaching. Empowering kids and parents with the tools to grow emotionally strong—together.

Behavior is a Window, Not a Diagnosis.

Children with ADHD, ODD, attachment issues, or anxiety often have difficulty expressing what’s happening beneath the surface. When a child throws something across the room or yells, “I hate you!” they’re not trying to make your life harder. 

They’re telling you:

• “I don’t have the words for what I’m feeling.”

• “My brain and body are overwhelmed.”

• “I don’t feel safe, understood, or in control.”

At Rocky Mountain Art and Play Center, we help parents decode these behaviors and see them for what they really are: clues. Clues that your child needs support—not punishment. Clues that there's a better way forward.

The Problem with Quick Fixes

Sticker charts, timeouts, and consequences may work temporarily—but they don’t teach your child how to understand or regulate their emotions. They don’t address the deeper struggles that lead to behavioral dysregulation in the first place. That’s why our approach is different. We work with families to create lasting change by focusing on:

• Emotional awareness

• Relational trust and connection

• Healthy boundaries and responsibility

• Confidence and self-regulation

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

We know parenting a child with behavioral challenges isn’t easy. We also know you want the best for your child—and you're willing to show up, even when it's hard. That’s where we come in. Let’s Reframe the Story. What if your child’s defiance isn’t a sign of disobedience, but a need for support?What if their outbursts are not problems—but starting points for healing, growth, and connection?

We’re here to help you rewrite that story—one step at a time.

📞 Ready to learn more? Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discover how our unique approach can help your child and your family move forward—together. Rocky Mountain Behavioral Consultants 

Author

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor at

Rocky Mountain Art and Play Therapy Center for Parent Coaching with Kids and Families

At Rocky Mountain Art & Play Center, We Help Big Feelings Feel Safe 💛

🎨 Where creativity meets compassion. We’re passionate about helping children and families heal, grow, and thrive through play, expressive arts, and heart-centered support.

Because when a child feels safe in their mind and body, their joy, imagination, and confidence can shine.

Stay Connected with Rocky Mountain Art & Play Center

At Rocky Mountain Art & Play Center, we guide families through life’s tough moments with calm, connection, and clarity—especially when emotions feel too big to handle alone.

🌱 Creative care for growing hearts and brains.🧠 Helping young minds feel seen, supported, and strong.

Want to Learn More?

👉 Visit: https://www.rockymountainartandplaycenter.com📩 Email: rockymountainartandplaycenter@gmail.com

We offer:

• Play-based emotional support

• Expressive arts therapy

• Parenting guidance rooted in neuroscience, attachment, and compassion

If you found this helpful, explore more tools, resources, and support designed to bring balance, connection, and emotional wellness to your parenting journey.

📌 Disclaimers

Not Medical or Legal Advice:The content on this website—including blog posts, videos, and downloadable materials—is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, psychiatric, legal, or educational advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician, psychologist, or qualified provider with any concerns regarding your or your child’s health.

No Therapeutic Relationship Established:Reading this blog or using our website does not establish a therapist-client or coaching relationship. Services are only initiated through a formal intake process and signed service agreements.

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💛 What Does It Look Like to Build a Better Home?

• It looks like fewer power struggles, and more peaceful transitions.

• It looks like your child feeling understood and capable, not broken or difficult.

• It looks like you knowing exactly what to do in the middle of a meltdown.

• It looks like your voice becoming a calming anchor, not a source of stress.

• It looks like siblings learning to cooperate, and routines becoming smoother.

• It looks like you feeling proud of the way you show up as a parent.

Together, we take the guesswork out of what your child needs—and replace it with responsive, effective strategies that feel doable in real life. Whether we’re tackling morning chaos, explosive emotions, school refusal, or bedtime drama, you’ll walk away with insight, tools, and hope. Not just hope that things can change—but the skills and confidence to make that change happen.

Let’s bring calm to the chaos. Let’s turn big feelings into beautiful breakthroughs.

Because when you feel steady, your child feels safe—and that’s where healing begins.

📞 Schedule a free consultation to see if we’re a good fit. I can’t wait to support your journey.

🖍️ Together we can bring calm to the chaos. Let’s turn big feelings into beautiful breakthroughs. Contact us today to learn more and to see if we’re a good fit for each other.

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