Let your preschooler learn how their ear picks up sound using their own voice, household implements as well as musical instruments.

Voice

Get your toddler to whisper, shout, sing loud, sing soft, talk in a normal voice. Talk to your toddler with the same directions and ask them which one they liked the most.

The ear

Print out this picture of the ear and show it to your preschooler. Explain how the sound from your voice travelled down the little tube and caused the ear drum to vibrate. The ear drum caused the hammer, anvil and stirrup to vibrate and the little nerves in your ear took the sound to their brain to tell them what they heard.

Drums

Take out a selection of pots and pan. Also take some wooden spoons, egg whisk and some metal spoons out. Place them on a carpet and let your toddler "‘play drums". Talk about eh different sounds made from the different implements on the pots.

Play a sensory game as described on my toddler sensory activity page relating to sound.

Make a tambourine described on my Passover activities page.

Home made guitar

Make this easy box guitar. You will need: A shoe box, differing widths of elastic bands.

Stretch the elastic bands over the box, working from thickest to thinnest. Let your toddler twang the bands for sound.

Home made shakers

Collect small plastic soda bottles. Quarter fill them with separate portions of dry rice, beans and lentils. Let your preschooler shake them and compare the different sounds.

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