The implications of participating in a Music Early Learning Program for parental sensitivity and socioemotional functioning in children aged 2–5 years: A randomized control trial

This study investigated the implications of participating in a Music Early Learning Program (MELP) for parental sensitivity and socioemotional functioning in children aged 2–5 years. Thirty-eight families were randomly assigned to either the MELP or the control group. Data were collected through a semi-structured home-observation protocol administered in the participants’ homes prior to and after the intervention. Parental sensitivity was assessed through independent, blind assessments using the short version of the Maternal Behavior Q-Sort. Parents completed the Behavioral Assessment Scoring System to assess their child’s socioemotional functioning. Consistent with previous studies, we found that participation in a MELP resulted in positive changes in parental sensitivity. Parents in the intervention group obtained improved sensitivity scores compared with participants in the control group, whose scores remained essentially unchanged. No significant differences were found between groups in child socioemotional functioning. These findings suggest that exposure to MELPs may benefit parent–child interactions. Implementing a MELP in a community setting may provide a positive context to help parents interact more predictably and coherently with their children.