Why sound and music play is important for development
Making sounds and music with babies is a lot of fun, and it’s also great for baby learning and development.
When babies listen to and make sounds, they learn about their environment – for example, what birds, cars and voices sound like. Or they learn that tapping on the floor makes a different sound from tapping on a saucepan. Or that blowing a kiss makes a different sound from blowing a raspberry.
They’re also learning that they can make things happen. For example, when they shake a rattle, they make noises.
Making sounds and listening to music can be a great way for babies to express and explore emotions.
And music is also great for bonding with your baby. For example, when you sing to your baby or hold them close while you dance to music, it helps to build a loving relationship.
What you need for sound and music play with babies
You can make sounds and music anywhere, anytime with your baby, just by singing and talking.
Ideas for sound and music play
- Toys that make sounds, like rattles, drums and things that squeak when you squeeze them
- Household objects that make noise when you bang them together, like pots, pans, wooden spoons and plastic cups or bowls – just make sure they’re safe to suck or chew
- Things that crackle and scrunch, like cellophane and clean paper (avoid newspaper or paper with inks and dyes)
- A safely knotted net bag stuffed with cellophane or other crackly, crunchy things
- Music you can sing, clap or dance to
Our Baby Karaoke has animated videos with the words and tunes of popular children’s songs and nursery rhymes. You can sing along with your baby to children’s favourites like ‘Baa baa black sheep’, ‘Rock-a-bye baby’ and ‘Old MacDonald’.
How to do sound and music play with your baby
- Use your bodies to make noise. Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and click your tongue.
- Sing songs to your baby. They can be soft and slow like a lullaby, or fast, loud and fun when you’re both feeling playful. Look at your baby while you sing so your baby can see your mouth make the words.
- Hold your baby and dance to music. You can also hold your baby’s hands and move them in time to the music.
- Blow raspberries at your baby.
- Make animal sounds and faces at your baby.
How to adapt sound play for children of different ages or children with diverse abilities
Older babies
If your baby can hold objects, you can help them make sounds by banging pots or shaking rattles. Let your baby choose which things to play with. Join in by copying the noises your baby makes, or try singing a silly song to go along with the noises.
Toddlers
Your toddler might enjoy instruments that are a bit harder to play, like xylophones or whistles. They might also like singing along to simple songs with you.
You can get more ideas for adapting this activity from our articles on play and autistic children and play and children with disability. You might also like to explore our other activity guides. They can all be adapted to suit children with diverse strengths and abilities.