Respond to a range of familiar sounds, for example, turning to a sound source such as a voice.
The voices, sounds and music, such as lullabies, that young babies respond to.
Sing action rhymes such as 'Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes' or clap and sing about something that you are doing, such as "We're getting Mina ready for bed".
Select toys that will make different sounds, such as a wooden cylinder with a little bell or a small toy that squeaks, and talk about the sounds babies hear when they mouth or hold them.
8-20 Months
Move their whole bodies to sounds they enjoy, such as music or a regular beat.
The different ways babies move in response to sounds, for example, patting the floor when on their tummy, flexing and relaxing their legs, or opening and closing their palms.
Imitate familiar sounds such as 'quack, quack', encouraging the baby to join in.
Have a range of puppets that can glide along the table, or dance around on the end of a fist in time to some lively music.
16-26 Months
Begin to move to music, listen to or join in rhymes or songs.
How children like to use shakers, blocks and body movement when they hear music, or to explore sound.
Making music - In a reception class, the practitioner and a group of children work out different rhythms using percussion instruments. [transcript]
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Listen with children to a variety of sounds, talking about favourite sounds, songs and music.
Introduce children to language to describe sounds and rhythm, for example, loud and soft, fast and slow.
Make a sound line using a variety of objects strung safely, that will make different sounds, such as wood, pans and plastic bottles filled with different things.
22-36 Months
Join in singing favourite songs.
Create sounds by banging, shaking, tapping or blowing.
Show an interest in the way musical instruments sound.
Children's responses to different songs, dance or music.
Help children to listen to music and watch dance when opportunities arise, encouraging them to focus on how sound and movement develop from feelings and ideas.
Invite dancers and musicians from theatre groups, the locality or a nearby school so that children begin to experience live performances.
Draw on a wide range of musicians and story-tellers from a variety of cultural backgrounds to extend children's experiences and to reflect their cultural heritages.
30-50 Months
Enjoy joining in with dancing and ring games.
Sing a few familiar songs.
Sing to themselves and make up simple songs.
Tap out simple repeated rhythms and make some up.
Explore and learn how sounds can be changed.
Imitate and create movement in response to music.
The ways children choose to explore sound, song or movement, for example, a group of children explored a rainforest theme through music and movement. Some used instruments to make the sounds of the rainforest, while others imitated the movements of rainforest animals.
Widen children's experience of music from different cultures, through experiences with different instruments and styles so that they are inspired to experiment, imitate, enjoy and extend their own expressions.
Provide experiences that involve all the senses and movement.
40-60+ Months
Begin to build a repertoire of songs and dances.
Explore the different sounds of instruments.
Begin to move rhythmically.
Recognise and explore how sounds can be changed, sing simple songs from memory, recognise repeated sounds and sound patterns and match movements to music.
Children's interest in exploring sound, rhythm and the arts such as when, in response to listening to music that represents the sea, the children composed their own sound picture. This led them into planning and constructing a ship in the role-play area and using materials in the art and technology area to make hats, flags and other props to support their play.
Support children's developing understanding of the ways in which paintings, pictures and music and dance can express different ideas, thoughts and feelings.
Encourage discussion about the beauty of nature and people's responsibility to care for it. Help children to support other children and offer another viewpoint.
Extend children's experience and expand their imagination through the provision of pictures, paintings, poems, music, dance and story.
Provide a stimulus for imaginative recreation and composition by introducing atmospheric features in the role-play area, such as the sounds of rain beating on a roof, or placing a spotlight to suggest a stage set. Provide curtains and place dressing-up materials and instruments close by.
