Listening skills are really important in language development. Sound shakers are a cheap and easy toy to make, which will encourage listening skills.
Make shakers from a set of identical small containers – such as snack tubs with lids (e.g. pringle tubs). Let the children choose what to put in the tubs, such as assorted pebbles, rice, conkers, sand, beads or buttons. Get your children to choose what colour paper to cover the tubs with then seal them.
You can also make visual shakers using clear plastic bottles filled with different coloured tissue papers or water adding different coloured glitter.
Make sure young children under 3 years can not put any of the small objects in their mouth as this may be a choking hazard.
Create opportunities to explore the use of sound making equipment.
Activities such as hitting everyday objects like pots, pans and mugs
with wooden spoons (this is to see if they notice similarities and
differences in pitch)
It is important to start children off on their musical journey as early in their development as possible.
Experience has shown that children
who are exposed to the basics of rhythm and pitch at a young age, when
they are ready to explore and try anything without inhibitions become
confident little musicians.
Keep it fun and enjoyable, children under the age of five will find
it difficult to always sing in tune. They do not yet have the vocal
range necessary to do otherwise.
It is important that children are able to listen to music and absorb the sounds and times and rhythms from an early age.
