High and Low Sounds with Toddlers

Parenting Tip:  Play with high & low sounds!

 

Why?

An activity that pairs opposite concepts (like high & low) allows toddlers to comprehend not only what something is, but also what it is not.  This helps children to clearly understand and define what each word represents.

Playing games where your voices move way up high, and way down low, allows your child to exercise his full vocal range – preparing his singing voice, and his expressive speaking voice.

Pairing high & low sounds with high & low movements, introduces a multisensory experience for your child, which strengthens her new understanding of high & low.

 

How?

Play the Grandpa's Glasses game!  Be sure to change your voice to match each character, as they receive their hat, or shoes, or glasses... :) 

Get out some instruments, and have a family playalong! Can you and your child create ways to play your instruments up high & down low?

Play 'I Love My Family' from Kindermusik's Family & Friends CD, and move your body to match the descending notes of the chorus.  What other songs have high & low parts that you can move to?

 

Want to Learn More?

On our blog:  Help your child to 'tune in' to sounds & pitches!

 

Kindermusik 7-Year Continuum: As babies, Kindermusik kids have parents & special adults who help them move their bodies high & low, to match the music.  Kindermusik toddlers begin to move their own bodies to match high & low sounds, as they imitate the movements of their significant adults.  In preschool Kindermusik classes, students begin to take charge of their own learning by providing their own ways to move high & low, and by identifying specific instruments that sound high and low.  Big kids in Young Child classes explore high and low bars on glockenspiels, and learn how higher notes appear in higher places on the musical staff, while lower notes appear in lower places on the staff.  They also learn that larger instruments produce lower sounds, while smaller instruments produce higher sounds.