Do-Re-Mi! Young children respond naturally to music. Research shows that playing and listening to music can be used to help children practice and learn important skills, such as language development, spatial skills and motor skills. Music can also introduce children to new cultures through music styles as well as encourage social skills and self-esteem. For ideas and activities around music, see below!
Articles
7 Music Games for Practicing Self-Regulation
Young children respond naturally to music and it can be used to help children practice important skills, like self-regulation. Here are a few self-regulation activities to try at home.
The Benefits of Music Education
Discover how music supports many kinds of learning, from language to motor skills, in a brain-changing way.
Helping Kids Benefit From Their Love of Music
Parents, especially those of young children, can help their kids make good music choices and ensure that they get the most out of the good music they listen to.
Boost Memory and Learning With Music
Learn how tapping their toes to their favorite song can boost mood and memory in children.
What’s the Right Age to Begin Music Lessons?
Learn when to begin music lessons and how to support your child's musical education at any age.
Creating a Musical Home Environment
From dancing to a silly song or playing an instrument, there are many ways to bring the joy of music into everyday life at home.
Hands-On Activities
Make Music With Everyday Objects
30 min activityThere are so many ways to make and experience music. One possibility is to explore how different items around your house sound as musical instruments.
Discover Pitch With a Water Xylophone
10 min activityInvestigate ways to create different pitch, tones, and sounds by creating your own glass bottle water xylophone.
Make a Chinese Rattle Drum
Use this fun craft activity to open up a discussion with your child about this Chinese instrument!
Make Your Own Instrument
Here is a simple and quick activity to make your own instrument!
Make a Guitar Out of Cardboard
20 min activityMake a fun stringed instrument out of simple materials around your house.
See Sound Waves
Use different noise-making objects to cause sound waves and make sand move!
Mood Music
Explore how music can help your child express feelings with this Pinkalicious daily music activity.
Make a Peruvian Siku Flute!
20 min activityCreate a siku flute to play and dance with family and friends — the Peruvian way!
Beat Nuts: Pistachio-Inspired Musical Craft!
15 min activityChristina, Andrés, and BoomBox play lots of different musical instruments on the podcast “Jamming on the Job.” Make your own instruments at home with this nutty kids' craft!
Games and Apps
Pinka-Perfect Band
Your child can explore music and sound by building unique instruments and joining in song with Pinkalicious and her friends.
Carmen's World Orchestra
In this game, Carmen is putting on a concert with instruments from Mexico, India, and Egypt. Players can interact with the Carmen, Andy, and Leo to hear their solos or the instrument buttons to contribute to the concert.
Feel the Music
Music is one way people can express how they are feeling. In this game, your child can express themself by choosing instruments and sounds that represent the feelings of happy, sad, and mad.
Sounda-pa-looza
Explore the sounds and pitch of different instruments in this musical game from The Cat in the Hat. Put the sounds together to create a rhythmic beat.
Monster Music
Elmo and his friends are making music. Your child can play music on his own or choose the music note to follow along and play a specific song.
Music Maker
Make music with Peg and Cat by changing the the height of objects to make the notes sound different. Cat will run along the musical items at slow, medium, or fast speed to play the music.
Music Shop
In this game, your child can visit the music shop to listen to the sounds of different instruments. Click on the music stand to play the xylophone, guitar, or drums.
Spin and Sing
It's so much fun to sing along with Daniel Tiger! Your child can spin a wheel of eight songs to sing along with Daniel and reinforce concepts such as counting to four when mad and being a helper at home.
Peg's Parade
In this game, your child can learn how to count by ones up to 10 by adding musicians to Peg's parade band.