Musical Instruments

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Recommend for: Cognitive, Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Toy Library

Categories: Sensory

Summary: Musical instruments can be lots of fun whilst allowing children to be creative and expressive, develop their musical awareness, as well as fine and gross motor, cognitive and social skills. Using natural materials can increase their creativity and awareness of their environment.

A musical instrument can be anything that producers a sound, for examples by hitting, blowing, sucking, rubbing or shaking. If children are exposed to music they will instinctively play music using any items they come across, such as hitting a tin with a stick, or blowing into an empty glass bottle. Experimenting with a number of different items teaches children about sound, encourages listening skills and helps develop hand and eye coordination.

Some ideas you may like to try:

  • Bells for babies – sew them into a piece of cotton fabric or onto ribbons, or place inside tins or boxes for rolling and shaking
  • Shakers – place seeds, sand or small stones inside plastic containers (seal securely and check often)
  • Hooters – cover cardboard cylinder at one end with paper with a whole poked through (children can blow through the other end)
  • Drums – use large empty tins, saucepan lids
  • Rhythm sticks – find a few wooden or plastic sticks
  • You can take the children for a walk outside and collect any natural objects that can be used to make sounds (such as branches, leaves, smooth stones etc)

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