Girl Sings ‘You Are My Sunshine’ To Teach Baby Brother With Down Syndrome

The bond between siblings is something priceless and irreplaceable. A new viral video shows how this bond could touch the hearts of millions of people worldwide.

A mother has shared a heartwarming video showing her daughter singing to her 25-month-old brother who has Down syndrome. The video, which was uploaded on Facebook, was viewed more than three million times.

Meet Lydia and her little brother, Bo.

Amanda Bowman Gray, the children’s mother, shared how her daughter, Lydia, would babysit her little brother, Bo, with her guitar.

It’s the only thing she knows that could help in babysitter her brother.

Amanda shared on her Facebook video:

“My daughter Lydia was watching Bo while I was in the shower. Came out to this.”

“If she didn’t have a guitar I don’t know if she would know how to babysit him. This is her go to. It’s proof that music therapy works.”

“Bo is 25 months old and has a 12-word vocabulary. Every word he has learned has been through music and singing.”

Many families across the globe are trying hard to find ways to help their children with Down syndrome. There are various therapies that are available to help these families.

The Gray family has found music as a good interactive activity for their children, particularly Bo, who has Down syndrome.

Down syndrome: What is it?

For some, they are already aware of what this condition is. For others who do not know, Down syndrome or Trisomy 21, is a genetic and chromosomal disorder caused when an error in cell division happens, leading to an extra 21st chromosome.

Usually, cognitive ability and physical growth can be affected and impaired. In the long run, there is a higher risk of health problems. People with Down syndrome may have multiple birth defects and half of them may have a heart defect.

Music therapy has been widely used in children with Down syndrome.

According to a music therapist, Julie Wylie, music can help both children and adult with the condition to improve their spoken language. Aside from language, music can also help improve the children’s quality of life.

The Nordoff-Robbins Center, a pioneer in music therapy in the United Kingdom (UK) says:

“Music is an intrinsic part of all of us: pulse and rhythm are found in our heartbeat, our breathing and our movement; melody is created in our laughing, crying, screaming or singing; the whole range of our emotions can be held within the rhythms and harmonies of different musical styles and idioms.”

“These intimate connections with music can remain despite disability or illness, and are not dependent on a musical training or background.”

Hence, the center added that therapists can use music to help both kids and adults with their various needs that come from their learning difficulties, physical disability, and mental illness. Also, interactive music can help address the cognitive, emotional and developmental needs of people with Down syndrome.