There are so many great ways of enjoying musical play with a young child. It’s a fun learning experience for kids of any age or ability and also a great de-stresser for mom, dad or caregiver.
Here’s a project that’s easy to make and provides an opportunity to take time out of a busy day to play and have fun with a little one that you love.
What’s A Roly Poly Musical Thing?
Anything you want it to be! Start with any cylindrical container like these and gather a few supplies to decorate and fill them. Here’s a basic supply list.
Supplies
Any recycled container that can roll.
Material to decorate: stickers, markers, colorful tape, etc.
Objects to fill: dried beans, rice, birdseed, jingle bells,
beads, buttons, macaroni, jingle bells, Q-tips, sand, salt, pebbles.
If your object is transparent – You may wish to add decorative objects that won’t change the sound but will add visual interest such as glitter, colorful puffballs or confetti.
Sturdy tape (such as electrical or duct tape) to seal the project.
Make Your Roly Poly Thing!
First clean and dry the container you’ll be using. Then decide how you’ll decorate. You can do this as a coloring project, add stickers or apply colorful tape.
Since you’ll be playing with this homemade toy by rolling it, remember that it can be fun to create designs that will be interesting when they are rolled back and forth, like changes in color, various stripes, patterns or wiggly lines or different stickers that might appear like different “faces” of the roly poly thing.
If your object is transparent, consider what you might put inside to make interesting patterns when the object is rolled.
Next, add the items that will create sound as your object rolls. Larger objects like dried pasta or large buttons make louder noises. Smaller items like sand or seed beads make a quiet “whooshing” sound.
Once you are pleased with the look and sound of your project, you can seal it up. Use a sturdy tape such as electric or duct tape and you’ll be ready to play.
Time To Play!
There are lots of fun ways to play with a roly poly thing. Here are some of our favorite ways:
Roll between two hands on the floor
Roll between two hands on a tabletop or at a desk
Roll back and forth between two players on the floor
Roll back and forth in time to music
Roll back and forth in time to slow quiet music
Roll back and forth in time to fast-paced, up-tempo music
Roll back and forth while singing or counting
Roll back and forth, rolling when music plays, stopping when music stops.
Make up your own games and your own rules.
Be creative and have fun!
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Looking for songs to “roll” along to?
Play Along With Any OF DARIA’s Songs on her Youtube Channel
