Music with my toddlers?

[jolenegreen]

HI! I have a 1 yr old and a 2 yr old. I was wondering if anyone had any great ideas of how to introduce or make music with them? Thanks

[zoebird]

we just got some instruments and we play. we also play recorded music a lot.

harmonicas are fun and easy, as are drums.

[slaggyc]

We have a local Music Together class that my dd has been going to since she was 8 months. I love it! It promotes brain and language development, community, rhythm and cultures. If there's not one near you, their website has lots of ideas!
http://www.musictogether.com/

[Mama Shifra]

Get some song books of familar songs and sing! Mary Schunemann's books (www.naturallyyoucansing.com) are Waldorf collections of familar and composed song. They are pricy! I also like The Usborne Nursery Rhyme Songbook with Cassette (ISBN 9780746028629). While not a waldorf collection, it has many of the traditional nursery rhyme songs written in verse and musical notation (and for those of us who are somewhat musically challenged, the tape is wonderful! It was sung by children). Other mainstream books I like (that your local library may have) are Humpty Who?: Crib Sheets for the Nursery for Clueless Moms and Dads by Jennifer Griffin and Baby Games: The Joyful Guide to Child's Play from Birth to Three Years (La Leche League approved!) by Elaine Martin.

If you decide to take Rahima Baldwin Dancy's suggestion (from You Are Your Child's First Teacher: What Parents Can Do With and For Their Chlldren from Birth to Age Six ) seriously (and it does entail both a lot of money and an ability to read music) you could buy a pentatonic harp and learn to play it. www.achildsdream.com has both pentatonic harps and the book Familiar Songs for Pentatonic Playalongs, which has many familar songs that you can play on the harp.

[ourdayourjourney]

nursery rhymes and some pots, pans, and spoons.

[azohri]

I've really been enjoying The Singing Day - I listened to the CD enough times to memorize many of the songs. It has made a huge difference in how often I sing throughout our day! I just got This is the Way We Wash-a-Day by Mary Thienes-Schunemann and have been disappointed so far. It's hard to listen to her songs as she has a very high pitched voice, and I just don't like it nearly as much as the Singing Day in general. Maybe it'll grow on me!

[annettemarie]

I really love nursery rhymes and lullabies for that age. Also, you can make up little songs to help guide you through your daily routines. And anything personalized with your children's names is a big hit!