Four Simple Musical Games for Children
Game 1: Peek-A-Boo
You will need: a plain sheer scarf
All young children love peek-a-boo games. Peek – a- boo can be played with any item that covers the eyes but it can be really enhanced with a sheer scarf. Soft, light and floaty scarves are loved by babies and young children. This peek –a –boo game is simple and yet creates that lovely sense of anticipation through the structure of the words and particularly with the way you use your voice to create the sense of excitement.
Sing or speak: “Sarah, Sarah, where are you hiding?….pause…(with rising pitch and volume) peeka …peaka,… PEAKA …BOO!”
When singing this use a high/low or soh/meh simple, two note melody.
Game 2: Jack in the Box
You will need: A playsilk large enough to cover the whole body
A similar effect can be obtained using a Playsilk. These are larger than the sheer scarves. They can cover the whole body. Very suitable for the 3 + child who likes to role play. So many wonderful things can be done with the Playsilks. This is just one:
Child crouches on the floor hiding eyes. Cover him up with a Play Silk and say:
“Jack is hiding,
Down in his box,
Until someone opens the lid…
(Whisking off the playsilk) BOO!”
Game 3: A Musical Jack in the Box
You will need four instruments or noise makers, for example;
This game uses musical instruments at particular points in the song. You can also use household objects such as a pot and spoon, two pot lids, a glass and spoon and a plastic container of rice or dried beans. This game encourages an understanding of musical phrasing and timing, so important for both language and musical development. All musical sounds are at the end of each of the following spoken or sung phrases;
“The Jack in the Box jumps Up”: make one sound on the triangle
“The Jack in the Box goes Flop”: shake the rainmaker
“The Jack in the box goes round and around”: shake the spinning cracker or a maraca
“The lid goes down with a plop”: one beat on Lollipop drum or drum of any sort
Great with help from an adult, this one also helps to focus concentration. Be the conductor. Swap roles.
Game 4: Jack in the Box Puppet or Finger Play
You will need: Cone clown puppet
This version of the game uses the song above but has a cone clown puppet instead of the instruments. This has a simple design and the clown can be raised, lowered and twisted at each appropriate spot in the song.
The Jack in the Box jumps Up: Push up clown
The Jack in the box goes flop: Lower clown halfway
The Jack in the Box goes round and around. : Twist clown side to side
The lid comes down with a plop: Pull clown down.
If you don’t have a puppet, use your fist: tuck thumb into fist, pop thumb up/down, spin thumb around and use other hand as the lid.
The MP3 for this song is available through Kindermusik.com
All of the props mentioned above are available through Kids Music Toys, a treasure trove of musical fun for babies and young children.
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The beauty of children and music Christie is you DON'T have to be musical or able to hold a tune. As long as you have rhythm that's all that matters … You do have rhythm don't you? Okay forget the rhythm thing as long as you have fun that's all that matters… and I KNOW you are great at that!!! 🙂
Donna 🙂 🙂
My babies have always loved using the sheer scarves. I've never seen the Jack in the Box game but that is totally up my son's alley. Can't wait to try it.