Key Messages 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Have fun playing together! Babies and children need to play - it’s how they learn about our world. Talk with your baby or child while you play - it will help them learn to talk to you. Watch and listen to your baby or child - let them lead the play. Don’t worry if your baby or child only plays for a short time, it will still have been a positive experience.
working together for health & well-being
Musical Play
Watch out for….. 1.
2.
Always keep a careful eye on your child. When making shakers, always make sure that the lid is well sealed so that the contents can't escape, to prevent your child from choking.
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If you would like more copies of this leaflet, want more information, or would like a copy of any of the another leaflets in this series, please contact Somer Valley Children’s Services on 01225 396660 This leaflet can be made available in a range of languages, in large print, Braille, on tape, electronic and accessible formats from Tel: 0800 073 1214 or Textphone: 07980 998906
Somer Valley Children's Centre Services Play Ideas
Why play with musical instruments?
Playing together…
• Musical play helps encourage lots of areas of children’s development • Babies and toddlers love repetition - they can make the same sounds again and again • Listening to and making music helps children’s concentration and communication
• Make your own band, playing instruments and singing songs together • See who can make the loudest noise • Cover your eyes and guess which instrument is being played • Use instruments to practise taking turns and sharing • Making your own instruments
Musical Play What can I use?
Talking together...
• Lots of household objects, including saucepans, containers, plastic bottles, yoghurt pots can be used to make drums • Kitchen utensils such as wooden spoons can be great drumsticks! • Fill pots with dried food such as rice and pasta to make shakers • Half fill a plastic bottle with water and add glitter
• Talk about the different noises the instruments make - are they loud or quiet, do they bang or rattle? • Talk about different songs to sing, or how different sounds could represent parts of a story (e.g. a shaker could sound like a river, a drum could sound like footsteps) • Let your child try describe what sounds the instruments make