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 the world around them. They experience the properties of sound when they hear it with their ears and feel its vibrations. Four-year-olds enjoy playing with sound and associate sounds with their sources. They enjoy mixing colors and begin to anticipate what will happen when they mix certain colors together. They like experimenting with shadows and changing their shapes and sizes. While four-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. Introduce words — like vivid, clear, dull and dim — that help them express what they are doing, noticing and thinking about. Sometimes loud sounds, dark spaces and shadows can make four-year-olds nervous. Your support will help them explore more confidently. Individual children will be interested in exploring different things, so remember to follow your child’s lead!