Did you know that November is International Drum Month? Drums are great fun, natural for kids, and can help them with learning and kindergarten readiness. No matter the age of your child, there will be lots of ways for making sounds by drumming. Here’s some fun we’ve had with drums.
Kids will use practically anything to be a drum. Babies like to tap on the table, the floor, and other objects that make a noise. Young toddlers love to hit on pots and pans with spoons and make much louder noises. Older kids can often use both hands and will alternate as they explore and create their own drums.
Children are not only discovering ways that they can make sounds, they are beginning to tune into rhythm. We all live with rhythm everyday, think of breathing and heartbeat. Drumming is also a very sensory experience for both hearing and touch. Drumming uses many basic musical concepts, such as loud/soft, and fast/slow. These activities also encourage listening and concentrating.
For kids that are very interested put on some music with a strong beat and let your child drum along. Or, if you and your child each have a drum, you can play a very simple rhythm which your child can copy, like an echo. Trying to make sounds together is also a fun activity.
The idea for drum month came from the Percussion Marketing Council. Perhaps, they were just recognizing how much people like to drum. There are animals that make a drumming sound too, not just people. Can your child have some fun and learning with a drum?
