10 Fun Activities To Introduce Your Children To Music

Music is a wonderful way to connect with your children, whether they are still babies or a little older. Your baby has been introduced to the world of sound and rhythm in your womb, and by the time he or she is born, they will have learned to recognise your voice!  

There is plenty of research that supports the idea that children develop musical ability up until the age of around 9 to 11. After this point, it seems that the window for developing certain abilities has passed, so it’s important that parents allow children to explore music from an early age.  

Whether your little one loves singing to their favourite doll or wants to make noise on a drum kit, we’ve got some great suggestions on how to introduce them to music!

Here are 10 ideas for fun ways you can introduce your child to music, rhythm, and sound while they’re still little.

1 – Make musical instruments with your children

You can start to teach things such as rhythm and musical concepts to your children using everyday objects, and even turn it into a fun craft project together. 

For example, an empty tissue box with rubber bands of various sizes stretched over it makes a great DIY guitar or an empty container filled with rice or beans can be a shaker. Use your imagination and you can probably come up with all sorts of great homemade instruments.

You’ll find yourself putting on a show for toys and interactive dolls in no time!

2 – Sing to them

You may not be the best singer in the world, but singing with your children is a great way to introduce them to music and can be done from the moment they’re in your arms! 

Singing is a great way to soothe your baby to sleep, and rocking them, either in your arms or in a cot, will also help to soothe them and introduce them to rhythm.

Of course you can continue singing to them, singing around the home, and even singing together for as long as they’re around, and this will always be lots of fun.  

3 – Teach them to whistle

Children find the ability to whistle fascinating, so teaching them to make musical sounds this way is a great activity to help them become more involved in music. Once you’ve taught them the basic positioning of the lips and practised with them a little, they’ll be whistling tunes they know in no time! Check out this article for more advice on teaching your little one. 

4 – Play musical games

From songs that have movements you can do together as you sing along, to games such as musical chairs and clapping games, you should aim to play musical games with your children.

They could even set up musical games with their favourite toys!

5 – Play music in the background

Whether it’s in the car on a family road trip, or just in the kitchen while you’re cooking, having music playing as a soundtrack to your life is a great way to help your children associate happy memories with music.

Even years down the line, memories of even simple tasks you’ve done together can be recalled when they hear a certain song, and this will definitely help to cultivate their love for music.

6 – Let them play with instruments

Consider having a music box in your home, filled with instruments that your child can enjoy. It doesn’t have to be filled with the most expensive instruments, even things such as egg shakers and recorders make a great start.

If you know you’re going to want some peace from your little ones practising, you could make sure this box can be put away and brought out as you choose. 

And, of course, once your children get a little older and start to show an interest in a particular instrument, paying for musical lessons is something they may really love.

7 – Give them musical colouring in

You can get your children used to what instruments and music notes look like by giving them colouring in activities that revolve around music. Taking the time to colour in things such as guitars and trumpets will give them a chance to really pay attention to what they look like.

8 – Get them used to musical terms

You could also consider giving them things such as word searches with musical terms, depending on their age.

9 – Soundtrack nap time

Rather than having the television on in the background while you’re relaxing or napping together, why not play music instead?

Relaxing music will really help your little ones to drift off, and will also help to associate music with feeling calm and safe.

10 – Children’s TV programmes

There are some children’s TV programs that are rather educational, many of which will feature songs that your little one can become familiar with, and it’s worth spending some time finding a few that you like so that you have something ready to put on when you need to.

We hope this has helped to inspire you when it comes to activities you and your child can do together to help introduce them to the world of music.

Explore the Play Like Mum range for more inspiration 

Be sure to keep an eye on our blog here at Play Like Mum for more posts on imaginative play and child development.

Why not take a look at our exclusive dolls prams & pushchairs and interactive dolls, and begin imaginative play with your little ones?  

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