The child will explore and listen to the sounds of different objects inside bottles.
Learning Area(s): Language and Communication; Sensory and Art
MATERIALS
- At least three plastic bottles or empty water bottles
- Various objects that will make noise (salt, beans, rice, buttons, popcorn kernels, etc.)
- Duct tape or glue
LET'S PLAY
Fill each bottle with one of the various sound makers. Tightly close the lids and cover with duct tape to secure (or glue and let dry) to make sure the contents stay inside and do not become choking hazards. One at a time, present a bottle and shake it for your baby or toddler to hear before giving her a turn to try. Encourage her to listen carefully to the sound the shaken bottle makes. Talk with your child about what you are hearing (e.g., “Do you hear it? This is loud.”) You can also tell your baby the name of what is inside the bottle and talk about how it moves (e.g., sliding, shaking, going up and down).
Repeat with each bottle and talk about the differences in sound each bottle makes, for example, “This one sounds very noisy! That one makes a quiet, soft sound.”
TIPS
- Your child may also enjoy rolling the bottles to watch and listen to the contents move inside them, then crawling after the bottles to retrieve them.
- To make this activity more challenging, make pairs of bottles filled with the same item (three pairs, six bottles total), and have your child try to find the matching sounds.