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 its volume (how loud or soft it is), pitch (how high or low it is), and timbre (the quality of sound) and feel its vibrations. Five-year-olds are increasingly able to engage in light and sound explorations. They especially enjoy investigating cause-and-effect relationships like moving the source of the light to change an object’s shadow or making tools to investigate different sounds. They know that mixing different colors creates new colors and shades but continue to investigate color mixing with enthusiasm. As you explore light and sound with your child, talk with them about their experiences. Introduce words — like vivid, clear, sharp, dull and dim — that help them express what they are doing, noticing and thinking about. Sometimes loud sounds, dark spaces and shadows can make five-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!