It is well known that music stimulates brain activity even in newborn infants. Older children gain dexterity and start simulating basic moves to play an instrument.
At a year old, most babies can shake a rhythm stick or a set of bells. At this age, you should play music and encourage your child to shake a stick or bell to the rhythm of the music. Any homemade piece will do as well. You can fill a plastic container with beads or beans – making sure the lid is secure – put on a favorite song and watch your child perform. Older children can have fun making a guitar out of an old shoebox, rubber bands, scissors, a paper-towel tube and a pencil. You can also cut an oval-shaped hole in the top of the box and stretch a few rubber bands around the box and over the top. Then, put a straight piece of wood like a pencil under the rubber bands at one end of the box. It sounds and plays great.
Purchasing a toy drum or tambourine can also encourage your child to use a rhythm instrument. Try tapping out a short, simple beat, and see if your child will repeat the sound that you created. This is introducing the process of reading and repeating musical notes.
Keep a variety of musical instruments in your baby’s toy box and have a CD player close by to play songs. You can also find children’s educational channels on TV, and if your child is enrolled in preschool, make sure that the program includes musical instrument playtime. There are also local preschool music classes that you can enroll your child in. Classes are also offered at libraries, museums and bookstores.
