Light and Sound

Young children are very curious about the sights and sounds in the world around them and interested in exploring them. Although they can’t touch, smell or taste light and sound, children can still investigate their properties. Young children experience the properties of light when they feel the warmth of the sun on their skin and when they see the colors, shadows, reflections and rainbows that are created as light interacts with the world around them. They experience the properties of sound when they hear it with their ears and feel its vibrations. Three-year-olds are very aware of light and dark, curious about mixing colors and know many color names. They can distinguish many different types of sounds — made by living and nonliving things — and may enjoy singing, listening to and moving to music. While three-year-olds may be drawn to noisy toys with bright flashing colors, there are lots of other ways you can support your child’s learning. As you explore light and sound with your child, talk with them about their experiences. Use words — like bright, brighter and brightest and loud, louder, loudest — that help them express what they are doing, noticing and thinking about. Sometimes loud sounds, dark spaces and shadows make three-year-olds nervous. Your support will help your child become a self-confident and safety-conscious explorer. Individual children will be interested in exploring different things, so remember to follow your child’s lead!