247 Unveiling parental insights into the benefits and feasibility of community-based music enrichment programs for children in economically disadvantaged areas

Objectives/Goals: Advance translational understanding of how families with young children from low SES backgrounds engage with music and how these experiences shape interest in music enrichment programs. By identifying family perceptions and barriers, this work will inform the design of responsive music interventions to promote developmental outcomes. Methods/Study Population: This is a qualitative study of semi-structured interviews. Families had at least one child who was ≤ 2-years old and an income which qualified for the Women, Infants, and Children’s (WIC) program. Exclusion criteria included children (≤ 2-years old) with chronic health diagnosis (e.g., cerebral palsy). Audio recordings were transcribed and coded using the inductive approach of thematic analysis. N = 15 included in the final analysis. The sample consisted of primarily black (53%) and multi-race (20%) families who reported an annual income below the 2023 poverty threshold for the number of family members living in the home (73%). Participating parents were mothers (94%), single (73%), and had a high school education or below (87%). Results/Anticipated Results: The home music environment: Parents’ own musical background influences decisions on music they select for their children. Parents prefer children’s songs that sound like the music they prefer to listen to (e.g., pop, hip-hop). Parent–child music interactions mostly include listening to and watching music shows vs. singing together. Parent interest/perception of community music programs: Parents have interest in community music programs and are interested in social and educational benefits to their child. Parent perceived barriers: Parents were not aware of music programs in their community. Social barriers include irregular work schedules, co-parenting, transportation, and balancing the demands of multiple children. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Understanding how families from low SES backgrounds engage with and access community-based music programs will inform equitable and scalable strategies to promote early developmental enrichment through music, bridging research and community impact.