The school year has officially begun! A key skill to build for school readiness is listening. You can help your child develop their listening skills by encouraging them to tune into the sounds around them and try to mimic them.

Create Music From Surprising Places
You can use household items to create your own musical instruments. Pots and pans can be used with wooden spoons to create drumming beats or even plastic Tupperware for a softer sound. Two pan lids could by used as cymbals. Two tablespoons taped, back to back, can be used for tapping each other or even tapping on your knees. Be creative and find the many sound possibilities in your household.

Can You Play Your Favorite Song?
After experimenting with home made sound instruments, a great way to familiarize your child with rhythm is to play along to any recorded song. They can drum, shake, tap or jingle along to any music. Remember that there is no right and wrong way to play and you will be surprised at how inventive your child can be.

Follow the Leader
Clap a simple rhythm with your hands and encourage members of the band to copy you as they play one of their homemade instruments or clap or tap their hands. You can incorporate some physical movement into your rhythms by making your own band and marching, skipping, hopping or whatever movement comes to mind as you move around inside or out.

Suggested Reading:
What’s That Sound, Woolly Bear by Philemon Sturges

Know of other great books about listening, music and sound? Share them!