20 min
Bubble Chase
You blow. They chase. That is the whole thing and it works every time.
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Kitchen Cupboard Band
Wooden spoons, saucepans, and a licence to make noise.
Turn the pan cupboard into a drum kit. Loud, free, and surprisingly good for rhythm and coordination.
What you need
- saucepans
- wooden spoons
- plastic tubs
- dried beans in a sealed jar
How to do it
- Lay out upturned pans, plastic tubs and a baking tray in a row.
- Give each child a wooden spoon.
- Start a simple beat and ask them to copy it. Two beats, then three.
- Take turns being the leader. Whoever leads sets the rhythm.
- Finish with a very quiet song, then a very loud one, so they practise both.
Why this is good for them
Copying a rhythm is an early listening skill that maps directly onto language processing. Alternating loud and quiet is one of the simplest ways to practise volume control without a lecture about it.
Adapting by age
1 to 2 yearsForget rhythm. Let them bang. The cause and effect is the lesson.
4 to 5 yearsAdd a freeze rule: when you stop, everyone stops.
Keep it safe
Use plastic rather than glass, and keep the volume sensible for small ears.
Cleanup tip
Everything goes straight back in the cupboard it came from.
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