Pots, Pans, and More
Pots, Pans, and More
Make music at home with everyday items
Kitchen Band Fun
In the middle of winter, making music indoors with your child can be especially fun. Music lifts your spirits and chases away those winter blues. In our classes, we sing, "Get out the pots, get out the pans, we're gonna have a kitchen band." So, go into the cabinets, choose your favorite utensils and pots of various sizes that make different sounds. Now you and your child are ready to sing, play, and have fun!
Towels or Scarves
For a change of pace, you don't have to look very far. In the kitchen drawer, take out a dish towel for a gentle "toy." Play your favorite calming music or a lullaby.
Sway, and wave your towel over your head like a kite. Paint a pretend circle on the floor. Wiggle the towels, and move as you feel the music. Perhaps you have old scarves that you no longer wear. Compare the feel of the scarf with the heavier dish towel, and move with it.
You might play a silly game of peek-a-boo by putting the scarf over your head. Pretend to hide before pulling it off and calling, "peek-a-boo!"
Maybe your scarf or towel will become a hat or skirt as you dance around the house. Use your creativity, and follow your child's lead!
Household Toys
You can use your child's toys to make musical fun. A teddy bear, or any stuffed animal, makes a great dancing partner. Or, if you sing a gentle song, rock and hug your teddy to the beat.
Any ball can be rolled or tapped to the music. Even a ball of yarn or play-dough is fun to use. Sit across from your child, singing and rolling the ball back and forth to the beat.
How about toy cars? Similar to the ball activity, roll cars to each other, keeping the beat. For babies, gently tap cars on their legs or tummies, or roll them up and down their bodies to the beat for a tactile experience.
Also, some rattles have colorful beads inside or rings around them. Babies and toddlers love to shake and watch the exciting display. Dance or sing their favorite song using these rattles as an instrumental accompaniment. Enjoy the delight in their eyes!
Other Ideas
In addition, clothespins are inexpensive and fun. The old-fashioned kind that doesn't snap and has rounded edges can be found at most stores. Easy to use, plain or painted, they make safe, quieter alternatives to rhythm sticks. Similar to class, the clothespins can be banged on the floor or tapped together to the big and little beat. Explore and create!
Further, the internet has many sites to help create your own instruments. One easy project is putting dried beans into a brown lunch bag. Once tied tightly, you will have a shaking instrument. But remember, always supervise children when making and playing with homemade instruments, as they may contain small parts.
Perhaps you have other ideas. Get creative, silly, and loving, and make music with your child at home and everywhere. You have the keys to make it happen. (Oh, yes! Keys! You can jingle a ring full of keys.) Create with confidence and let yourself be inspired!
