In the Backyard

Summer camps start this week, and most all of you are doing Creatures in My Backyard. Here are some great ideas for bringing music outside. Thanks to Sarah of Loredo for these ideas!

1. Turn up the music and dance together in the backyard. No radio? Sing to your child or, even better, sing together as you dance. Dancing together helps with balance and coordination.

2.Load up the wagon or stroller with stuffed animals and have a zoo parade down the sidewalk, complete with homemade instruments and lots of animal sounds. Imitating animal sounds is a great way to help with language development.

3.Be sound detectives as you visit the park or walk in your neighborhood.Who can notice the most sounds? Who found the most unusual sound? Who heard the quietest sound? Listening intentionally builds attention skills that come in handy in school.

4.Look for outdoor objects that can be transformed into instruments. Sticks,
clean trash cans, pebbles, and sand all can become great soundmakers (and
help children think more creatively).

5. Overturned bowls make great drums in the wading pool. Add 3 or 4 bowls and a set of spoons to drum with, and you've got the recipe for a wading pool concert--not to mention building coordination and strengthening those finger and arm muscles!