22mo–3y12 minMusicFree playOutdoor
Sound Safari Favourites
Explore a variety of everyday sounds and talk about favourites, building listening, choice-making, and playful music-making with household materials.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 3-5 safe household items that make different sounds (e.g., keys, paper to scrunch, wooden spoon and pot, rice in a sealed container, empty plastic bottle)
- a clear space to sit or move a little
Nice to have
- phone (optional) to play a familiar song at low volume
- a small towel or blanket (for sitting)
Movement level: mild
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneCreates sounds by banging, shaking, tapping or blowing.Mind· 7mo–10mo· stretch· Steps 2, 4
- MilestoneExpresses own preferences and interests.Heart· 22mo–3y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneCopies a tapping patternMind· 2.8y–3y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneProduces a simple rhythmMind· 2.8y–3y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneCopies simple gestures or actionsMind· 6mo–2.3y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneParticipates in songs and rhymesMind· 14mo–2.3y· core
- MilestoneJoins in Singing Familiar SongsMind· 2y–3y· stretch
- MilestoneDemonstrates sense of self as an individual, e.g. wants to do things independently, says “No” to adult.Heart· 16mo–2.2y· stretch· Step 3
What it practices
- Creates sounds by banging, shaking, tapping or blowing.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Shows an interest in the way musical instruments sound.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Joins in singing favourite songs.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Experiments with blocks, colours and marks.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Listen with children to a variety of sounds, talking about favourite sounds, songs and music.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)