STEAM for Babies & Toddlers
From the Activity Guide: STEAM for All Ages
At this young age, every moment of a baby’s day is a science experiment. Every movement they make tells them about the world around them. They are constantly involved in the scientific process as they investigate their world and the impacts that their actions have on the people, places, and things around them.
One of our favorite ways for young ones to explore and experiment with music and sound is the classic found-item drum circle. Set your little one up with some spatula “drumsticks” and different bangable objects from around your house – pots and bowls, empty containers, small pillows, a big hollow toy, etc. As they’re happily banging away, they’ll be experimenting with so many of the fundamentals of music-making. Feel free to join them on the floor and explore these questions with them:
- Dynamics: What happens if you hit something hard versus something soft?
- Timbre: How does the metal pot sound different than the pillow?
- Tempo: What do slow sounds sound like versus fast sounds?
Science-Inspired Playlist
Wrap up your scientific exploration with this playlist full of science-inspired music.
Find this and other activities in the full Activity Guide: STEAM for All Ages