Dear Mumsnet Mums,
I'm just about to start my second year on the part-time Music Therapy course at Roehampton University (leading to a professional HPC recognised qualification), and as part of the course we are required to undertake an infant observation during the first term of the upcoming academic year.
This entails visiting an infant of under nine months in the home setting on a regular basis, for an hour once weekly between September and December. Music therapists study child development and are particularly concerned with non-verbal communication. The infant observation is valuable in helping to bring the theories we're studying alive and also to develop my powers of observation which will be valuable in my clinical work.
My tutors also add:
'We are grateful to families who enable these observations to take place and students are reminded that it is a privilege to be welcomed into the home and to be as unobtrusive a possible. Nothing special is required of the mother - sometimes parents become worried that the baby should be awake and active - but the student is not there to take notes, give advice or play with the baby.
Students on this programme have been selected after personal interview and their references followed up. They will be proceeding to work with vulnerable children in schools and nurseries as well as in hospital settings and with the elderly.'
I am also able to pass on a letter from my University with my tutor's contact details in case you have any queries or concerns.
I would be very grateful to any local mothers who would be willing to accept this opportunity.
I look forward to hopefully hearing from you soon,
With all best wishes,
Muso123