Toddlers and preschoolers love scavenger hunts. It adds interest to going to the park or being on a walk or even finding something to do in the backyard. In this game, we’re using a chart to start listening for common sounds heard outside like a car, birds, or a cat. … Read more
My 9-year old nephew got a book for Christmas on stop-motion animation with Legos. When I saw his first videos, they were so fun I had to add sounds to them (what I do for a job, basically!). With a few simple suggestions, he was off and running doing all … Read more
Loud and quiet are basic sound concepts that can be taught to toddlers. Even though we tend to teach it in games, as a parent, I’ve found it to be a pretty useful tool (like trying to get a toddler to speak quietly when they’re being too loud in public). … Read more
Remo is a US-based company that’s been around over 60 years. They’ve been recognized for “environmentally responsible manufacturing” since 1997. Remo has a reputation in the professional music community for quality instruments and I have done sound recordings of many Remo instruments in my work. So, I was excited to find out … Read more
For teens who are making music, there’s a lot of technology to explore. Audio and music technology covers a wide range from writing music, recording music, and using “synth” (artificial) sounds with software or hardware. Getting started Most musicians don’t get into music tech by reading books and memorizing audio … Read more
While babies love electronic toys that light up and play sounds, there’s a few reasons to give them a sensory experience that’s equally “acoustic,” too: Humans hear a wide frequency range of sounds – much wider than electronic toys can create Acoustic toys can be good for motor skills because … Read more
The Listening Walk by Paul Showers A young girl goes on a walk with her dad and her dog, Major. She calls it a Listening Walk and talks about all the sounds she hears. She says, “On a Listening Walk I do not talk. I listen to all the different … Read more
In 2000, a group of fifth graders in Centerville, Ohio took on a research question: “Are there times or activities in our school when the noise level becomes dangerous to people’s hearing?” They discovered a number of places where sound levels were not safe and their article was published in Hearing Rehabilitation … Read more
Toddlers can learn basic concepts about sound through books and reading. For example, toddlers can learn the difference between loud and quiet, how to listen or when to use an indoor voice versus outdoor voice. These books can be a great way to start talking about these topics. Loud and Quiet … Read more
The Sound Chart for Kids activity helps learn how to identify sounds and different characteristics of each sound. The basic characteristics we’re going to look at: Loudness: Loud, medium or soft/quiet (medium is speaking voice level) High frequency, low or mid-range (middle) Short vs long length (a clap versus singing … Read more
Find things to stomp on! This is a toddler sensory activity that is also good to encourage language development. When we talk about sound games for young kids, we tend to think of their hands. What can they touch, shake, or rattle to create sounds? Toddlers love to walk, kick, … Read more