Early Childhood Music: Shakers!

Raise your hand if you have a few extra plastic Easter eggs laying around! Only me? I figured that was probably the case. But on the off chance that you DO have a few left (or have something that you can substitute, like film canisters or mint tins), here are 5 super easy music activities that you can use them for.

But first - take your Easter eggs, open them and fill them with a variety of household objects, and then superglue them shut. Here are my eggs:

• Two eggs, each filled with a handful of gravel
• Two eggs, each filled with three coins (a penny, a nickel and a dime)
• Two eggs, each filled with 4 uncooked lima beans
• Two eggs, each filled with a single paperclip
• Two Eggs, each filled with a pinch of rice

If you are doing this at home, talk to your child about what they are, and what kind of sounds they might make as you fill them. Ask them which ones they think will make the loudest sounds, which ones will make the softest sounds, and even open ended questions, like, "What kind of sound do you think this will make?"

Ready for the activities?

1. Have your child match the eggs that have the same sounds. This is GREAT for  auditory discrimination.

2. Ask questions about the sounds of the eggs - Which one sounds like it has metal in it? Which one sounds like it has rocks in it? Which one sounds like it has the most in it? Which one sounds like it has the least in it? Which one is the loudest? Which one is the softest?

3. Grab an egg and dance! Turn on music and let your child move and groove to the beat. Any kind of music is fine!

4. Shake a rhythm and have your child shake it back - then reverse roles!

5. Sing this song (to the tune of Row, Row, Row, Your Boat) as you shake your shakers. I learned this one from my Early Childhood Music & Movement class:

Shake, shake, shake your shakers

Shake them high and low!

Shake them all around the room,

Whichever way you go!

Shake, shake, shake your shakers

Shake them left and right,

Shake them all around the room,

Shake them out of sight!

Have fun! If you have any other ideas for activities, feel free to share them in the comment section!