Imagine if your child’s meltdowns had a volume knob… and you could turn it down with a song. 🎵

No, it’s not magic. It’s music. And when used with intention, it can become one of your most powerful tools for calming chaos, building routines, and helping your ADHD kiddo feel safe, steady, and seen.

This week, we’re diving into the science of sound and how you can use it in small, easy ways to bring more focus, flow, and yes… peace into your day. 💛 

🎵 Music & ADHD: Discover How Music Can Calm the Chaos, Boost Focus & Bring Peace to Your Home

Does this sound familiar….

Kids running. You yelling. Someone crying. And maybe—just maybe—you’re hiding in the pantry eating chocolate chips out of the bag (no judgment… we’ve all been there). 😅

But what if there was a simple way to dial down the chaos and turn up the calm?

🎧 Enter: MUSIC! 

Not just any music, though. The right kind of music can help kids with ADHD focus, feel better, and even stay calmer (yes, really!).

Let me tell you about my girl Emily.

She’s a mama of two wild and wonderful kiddos. Her son Lucas, age 8, has ADHD. He used to have morning meltdowns so big, neighbors probably heard the drama.

One day, in a desperate moment before school, she played some gentle piano music. Just background noise.

And MAGIC happened.

Lucas stopped pacing, found his shoes, and didn’t scream when she asked him to brush his teeth. 😲

Now, every morning, they play “Lucas’s Chill Playlist.” It’s part of their rhythm, and it works like a charm. 

🔬 What the Science Says: Why Music Works

Here’s what studies tell us about music and the ADHD brain: 

🎧 Music lights up the whole brain, which is perfect for ADHD kids who need more balance and focus.

A 2025 study found that listening to music turns on many parts of the brain at once—both the left side (which handles logic and language) and the right side (which helps with emotion and creativity). It boosts areas that control movement, focus, feelings, and memory all at the same time.

Even better? Playing music, like drumming, piano, or guitar.

If your kiddo wants to play along, this Donner Concert ukulele kit is a great starter. It comes with everything they need to join the music flow at home.

Or, check out this electronic drum set! One of the reviewers said this about it - “Got to be one of the coolest easiest things to set up I’ve EVER GOTTEN ON TEMU. Very excited. I’m not a drummer but am very interested in music and the drums. With spending a ton of money you can get the feel of the drums and it actually sounds like drums and all you do is roll it back up when you are done. I love it and would highly recommend it.” 

A 2023 study showed that when a child plays an instrument, the two sides of their brain have to work together. Reading notes, keeping a beat, and moving their hands all at once builds something called brain coordination, and that helps with things like focus, planning, and learning.

So whether your child listens to music or plays it themselves, it’s not just fun. It’s like real brain therapy.

🧘 Slow music helps the body and brain calm down.

A 2025 study in Scientific Reporter showed that when kids listen to slow, gentle music, their heart rate slows down and their bodies relax. This kind of music turns on the “rest and relax” part of the nervous system—called the parasympathetic system—which helps your child feel more in control of their emotions and less overwhelmed.

In short? Slow music = slower heart = calmer kid. 

🧠 Some rhythms help the brain focus (kind of like a mini workout for your mind).

A 2024 study by Assaneo found that listening to certain steady beats can boost focus and memory. When your child listens to music with a clear rhythm—or claps, taps, or plays along—their brain gets stronger at paying attention and remembering things. 

Want to turn rhythm into your secret weapon? A manual Ueteto metronome helps kids build attention and timing (and there are no batteries required).

👉 Kids with ADHD often have trouble with dopamine, a brain chemical that helps with focus.

Guess what? Music gives a dopamine boost! Scientific research supports the claims that dopamine dysfunction is common in ADHD, that music can increase dopamine, and that music may help improve working memory and focus in children with ADHD. 

And music can even improve social skills. Group drumming or singing helps kids feel connected!

🎼 How to Use Music at Home (and Not Lose Your Mind)

1. Pick the Right Music

You want calm, steady beats. Try:

• Classical music (no lyrics = fewer distractions)

• Nature sounds (think birds, rain, waterfalls) - check out this nature sounds machine! My boys love it! 

• Lo-fi beats (gentle rhythm, zero chaos)

• World music with a simple beat

🛑 Avoid loud, fast, or silly songs during focus time. Yes, I’m looking at you, “Baby Shark.”

2. Match the Music to the Moment

Let music help your kid know what’s coming next:

• Getting ready: Upbeat but calm (like soft jazz or Disney instrumentals)

• Homework time: Wordless, medium-speed beats (For focused homework time without leaks or distractions, these comfy headphones limit volume and block out chaos, which is perfect for concentration sessions). 

• Bedtime: Slow and soft (like lullabies or gentle strings)

Think of it like a musical schedule. The brain loves patterns.

3. Use Music as a “Mood Remote”

When your child is wired, try music as a reset button:

• Cranky? ➡️ Play happy tunes.

• Anxious? ➡️ Try rain sounds or slow piano. (This sound machine plays rain sounds and other sounds from nature!) 

• Overexcited? ➡️ Use steady drums to bring energy down.

🚫 When Music Doesn’t Help

Not every tune is magic. If your child:

• Gets distracted by lyrics

• Can’t stop singing along

• Becomes overstimulated

...then switch to nature sounds, white noise (try this white noise sound machine!), or something simpler. 

The Big Takeaway: 

Music is a tool. A routine helper. A focus booster. And—on tough days—a lifeline for your sanity.

So next time your house feels like a tornado of tiny feet and tangled thoughts…

Try pressing PLAY.

You might just find your calm inside the chaos.

Got a favorite song or playlist that works wonders? SHARE it by replying to this email. 

🎙️ And here’s something to look forward to: We’ve got a music therapist lined up for an upcoming episode of the Soaring Child Podcast later this year.

You won’t want to miss the practical tips they’ll share! Make sure you’re subscribed today on your favorite podcast platform so it lands right in your inbox!

Create a Music Cue for Transitions

Transitions are HARD for ADHD brains, but music can help your child’s brain shift gears without the shouting match.

Try this:

• Choose one upbeat but steady song to play every time it’s clean-up time.

• Or a soft instrumental track to signal bedtime.

• Keep it the same song, every time.

🎶 After a few days, their brain will start to associate the music with the activity (which means less nagging, more doing.) 

💡 BONUS: Let your child help pick the song! Giving them a choice boosts buy-in. 

Keep reading below for ANOTHER GREAT tool to help with this!! 

🎶 “Music for Moments” Printable Chart

Let’s take that Parent Power-Up tip one step further! 

Introducing: The “Music for Moments” Chart, a simple, printable tool to help your family build daily rhythms using music. 

This chart lets you:

✔️ Pick songs for wake-up, homework, cleanup, bedtime, and everything in between

✔️ Let your child help choose their “power songs”

✔️ Create consistency without conflict (hello, fewer battles!)

📥 Download the Chart below. 

Stick it on the fridge, or keep it in your child’s room, and start seeing those transitions get a little bit easier…One song. One moment. One win at a time.🎶

Last week, we explored how blood sugar swings can fuel ADHD symptoms. Two of our amazing community members shared how protein made all the difference for their kids! 

🎙️ Celeste shared:

🎙️ Mary added:

These small swaps lead to big wins. 

👉 Have a story of your own? We’d love to hear it! 

Reply to this email and share your win—big or small—to be featured in next week’s newsletter.

Looking for additional newsletters to encourage and inspire you? Check out this one below! 

Assaneo MF, Lizcano-Cortés F, Ripolles P. Keeping time: How musical training may boost cognition. PLoS Biol. 2024 Sep 5;22(9):e3002810. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002810. PMID: 39236087; PMCID: PMC11407654.

Darki C, Riley J, Dadabhoy DP, Darki A, Garetto J. The Effect of Classical Music on Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Mood. Cureus. 2022 Jul 27;14(7):e27348. doi: 10.7759/cureus.27348. PMID: 36046316; PMCID: PMC9417331.

MacDonald Hayley J. , Kleppe Rune , Szigetvari Peter D. , Haavik Jan. The dopamine hypothesis for ADHD: An evaluation of evidence accumulated from human studies and animal models. Frontiers in Psychiatry. Volume 15 - 2024. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1492126 doi 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1492126

Martin-Moratinos M, Bella-Fernández M, Blasco-Fontecilla H. Effects of Music on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Potential Application in Serious Video Games: Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res. 2023 May 12;25:e37742. doi: 10.2196/37742. PMID: 37171837; PMCID: PMC10221503.

Saskovets M, Saponkova I, Liang Z. Effects of Sound Interventions on the Mental Stress Response in Adults: Scoping Review. JMIR Ment Health. 2025 Mar 24;12:e69120. doi: 10.2196/69120. PMID: 40127440; PMCID: PMC11976171.

Saville P, Kinney C, Heiderscheit A, Himmerich H. Exploring the Intersection of ADHD and Music: A Systematic Review. Behav Sci (Basel). 2025 Jan 13;15(1):65. doi: 10.3390/bs15010065. PMID: 39851869; PMCID: PMC11762814.

Slater Jessica L. , Tate Matthew C.  “Timing Deficits in ADHD: Insights From the Neuroscience of Musical Rhythm” Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience. Volume 12 2018 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/computational-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fncom.2018.00051 doi 10.3389/fncom.2018.00051

Yang, Z., Su, Q., Xie, J. et al. Music tempo modulates emotional states as revealed through EEG insights. Sci Rep 15, 8276 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92679-1

https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/how-music-resonates-brain

https://www.additudemag.com/music-therapy-for-adhd-how-rhythm-builds-focus/