Enhancing executive function through creative music module for Urban left behind children in Shandong China

This study aimed to develop and evaluate a creative music module designed to enhance executive function in urban left-behind children aged six to seven. As urbanization accelerates and labor migration increases, the number of urban left-behind children has grown, their challenges remain under explored. A mixed method approach guided by the ADDIE model informed this study. There were 60 participants randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The intervention lasted 12 weeks and was conducted in a natural classroom setting. Executive function, including inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, was assessed at three time points: before the intervention, at the midpoint, and after completion. Quantitative data were analyzed using a 2 * 3 mixed design repeated measures ANOVA to examine main and interaction effects. Although the difference in inhibitory control between the two groups did not reach statistical significance, the experimental group exhibited an upward trend in performance, indicating a possible positive effect of the intervention. However, significant improvements were observed in working memory and cognitive flexibility. For working memory, the BDST Brain Capacity test showed a significant main effect of the test period: F (1.57, 58.43) = 6.55, p < .05, _2p = .10, and significant interaction effects with teaching method differences: F (1.57, 58.43) = 4.59, p < .01, _2p = .07. The DCCS After Boundary test showed similar results, with significant main effects and interactions. The study found that integrating creative module can significantly enhance the executive functions of urban left-behind children. This approach shows the meaningful theoretical and practical implications, as it not only strengthens music education interventions but also directly addresses the unique developmental challenges faced by this population. Future research should explore the long term effects of the intervention and assess its transfer ability across diverse populations and educational settings.