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Acoustic Toddlers

© Jennifer T. Stack

More than great toys, percussion instruments are great tools for kids to play along with a song you sing, a cd or video, to create their own songs, or just to express their feelings. The instruments I will discuss are generally appropriate for two year olds, but check the manufacturers’ warnings on each particular instrument. Older children may enjoy creating their own music makers (watch for an upcoming article), but for a toddler, your best bet is to buy some safe and durable instruments from a trusted manufacturer. Be aware of the size and weight – even baby safe maracas can hurt a baby if they are too heavy to handle.

1. Drums Kids instinctively love to drum. Leave a baby alone for two minutes with a large pot and you have a drummer. Beyond pots and pans, skin drums are great for experimenting with drumming at a humane volume.

2. Maracas Kids love maracas. Even the name has an exciting sound. Maracas can be found in all shapes and sizes. Although those made of natural materials like gourds can be very beautiful, unbreakable plastic is a must for babies and toddlers. The Little Tikes’ Little RhythmMaker series includes a nice set (for 24m+) with see-through sections to watch the beads.

3. Rain sticks You can often find rain sticks, or variations on this instrument that sounds like a gentle waterfall, in the toy store baby department. Older children are just as mesmerized as babies are by watching beads fall back and forth as they turn the stick. Gymboree’s mini rainbowmaker is perfect for babies and older kids as well.

4. Tambourines Many tambourines aren’t appropriate for toddlers or babies they might be hurt by the hard edges of the cymbals. However there are a few you may want to consider. Both Fisher Price’s Animal Band and Little Tikes’ Little RhythmMaker series include tambourines with cymbals partly enclosed in plastic.

5. Xylophones and Keyboards Xylophones and keyboards are wonderful instruments for kids age preschool and up. Happily, Fisher Price and Little Tikes offer safe versions for toddlers as well. Fisher Price’s Crocodile Keys also serves as a beginning keyboard. Plan Toys’s four note wooden xylophone is perfect for young toddlers, but older children will appreciate more notes for greater experimentation. A new twist for babies is Munchkin’s Mozart Magic Xylobell, which plays the entire scale with the twist of the wrist.

Buying Tips: Always play the entire scale yourself before buying to ensure that each note plays in tune. When considering keyboards for young children, I recommend starting with an acoustic instrument first. While many electronic keyboards are fine for kids, many are simply too loud (watch for an upcoming article on good and bad electronic toys). Young children also absorb a lot of information about the mechanics of sound by playing with acoustic instruments. Schoenhut makes wonderful children’s pianos with a chime-like quality, but they are intended for preschoolers.