Music, wood, plastic or metal surfaces to use as drums, wooden and metal spoons to use as drum sticks, paper towel rolls, waxed paper, cups, plastic wrap, materials (such as uncooked rice or beans) to put in the maracas.
With your child, look at pictures of musical instruments, such as drums, kazoos, and maracas, and then make and play them.
- Make drums from empty coffee cans with plastic lids, round oatmeal containers, or pots and pans
- Make kazoos by placing waxed paper over one end of a paper towel roll, adhere the waxed paper with tape, and then poke two or three holes in the waxed paper.
- Make maracas by putting pebbles or uncooked rice or beans in plastic cups, then sealing the top with paper and tape. Supervise the use of dried rice and beans closely, as they can pose a choking hazard.
- Play music and dance with your child, playing the different instruments as you dance. Encourage her to play all of the instruments.
Play games such as follow the leader -- take turns imitating what your child does and having her imitate what you do. Try creating a family marching band.
What Your Child Can Learn:
- Following directions
- Listening skills
- Discrimination between different sounds (a kazoo sounds different from a maraca)
- Creative movement