Make Your Own SoundPlay Bag!

When you are a Mum with a baby sometimes it's nice to have a bag of tricks up your sleeve that will save your sanity!  Here are some of the tools that helped me over the years.

Making up your own bag BEFORE your baby arrives is a good idea but if baby has arrived already it's never too late!  This would also be a great gift to give your pregnant friend! 

1. A Journal
This is (mostly) your GRATITUDE journal. You may be wondering what this has got to do with sound. Well, I have added it because I know from my own experience that if I don’t feel grateful. I feel “crapful” and won’t feel like doing anything joyful like playing with sound, or anything else for that matter! So, to start with one needs to feel grateful which basically puts you into a better mood. 

When you have a baby, life can feel a bit boring or tedious sometimes BUT if you start looking for things to feel grateful for your life will go from tedious to marvellous!  Miracles happen ALL the time, such as; You turn the tap on in the shower and warm water instantly comes out and pours all over your tired body washing the day (and baby spew) away…Your husband texts you to see if you need anything from the shops on the way home and he brings home everything you have asked for… You are able to download a book instantly and read a few pages of it while baby was sleeping! You have money to pay for the shopping in your trolley! The sun came out and warmed you up on a cold day! You hear the birds singing beautifully as you are trying settle your screaming baby while taking her for a walk outside.

See? It's pretty easy to find 3 things to be grateful for! The best thing is that when you start noticing these little miracles, more miracles seem to happen… because you take the time to NOTICE them!

I recommend writing down at least 3 things you are grateful for in your journal each day. I   usually do this at the end of the day before I go to bed.
You can also use your journal to answer these reflective questions:

• What music makes me feel good?
• What music do I love to dance to?
• What music makes me relax?
• Which music drives me crazy?
• Which sounds in my house drive me crazy and what can I do about them?
• Which sounds in my life nurture me?
• What negative thoughts do I have about my voice that prevent me from singing my
• heart out?
• What do I love to sing?
• What does my baby love me to sing?
• Which songs do I sing when baby is upset?
• What music does my baby like to soothe her to sleep etc.
• You could also write down all the lyrics to the "Heart Song" (see "Create" Topic) and/or songs you make up!

It is a space to write down anything related to your musical journey together with your baby. What a great book to share and reminisce with your child one day!

Soft Toy
This is the first object for your “musical objects” game, where you sing songs that relate to the object. Your baby or toddler can take a lucky dip from the bag or choose a favourite toy - then you sing together a song that relates.

For a mouse, you might sing “Three Blind Mice” or “Hickory Dickory Dock.”
Duck – “Six Little Ducks Went Out One Day”
Frog - “Der Glumph Went the Little Green Frog One Day”
Star – “Twinkle Twinkle”

You will probably think of more songs for these objects and will find more objects to add to your collection. Objects can be found at discount stores or just around the house. Make sure the objects are safe for baby/toddler to play with and supervise at all times.

Silk Scarf
OMG have we had fun with scarves over the years! We have a large rainbow one in the “dancing room” that we play with, along with a box full of smaller coloured scarves.

There are SO many ways to play with a scarf. My favourite is just putting on some music (classical music is great for this because you get a variety of tempos…fast and slow and everything in between!) and challenge yourself to find as many different ways to move the scarf around as possible!

Babies LOVE watching the scarf float up and down over their head and feeling it gently touch their skin. Hours of  entertainment! (well, a few minutes at least!).

Musical Instruments Like an Egg Shaker
There are many instruments you could pop into your SoundPlay bag ... but an egg shaker is the perfect little instrument to start your musical instrument collection!  You can find these at your local music shop for sure!

Put on some music and shake the egg shaker along with the music or just explore with your baby the many different ways you can shake and roll your egg.

Remember to choose quality instruments when you add to your collection. Before you buy ask yourself, “Would I enjoy exploring and listening to this?” Plastic instruments don’t break and are colourful BUT they also sound like plastic! Kids deserve and need quality sounds too! 

Sound Making at Home
There are many things you can make music with around the home.  My babies loved playing with a 30cm piece of plastic chain that I bought from the hardware shop.  It rattled beautifully and they enjoyed the feeling of it in their hands ... and mouth... 

You will come across all kinds of objects that your baby/ toddler will like purely because it sounds good. For example, cellophane paper crinkles beautifully and pots and pans make cool banging sounds. You can also make things like a mobile with things that jingle hanging from it or shakers made out of a plastic bottle with rice or lentils inside it (make sure lid is secure before handing it to your baby). 

Use your imagination and pay attention to the sounds that can be made out of everyday objects that entice your baby’s curiosity!

Other Treasures You Could Add
Use your imagination when you are finding more treasures to include in your SoundPlay Bag and have fun! Other treasures to include in your SoundPlay Bag are;

Balloon
Put on some music and tap it around where baby can see it moving. Watch him/her tracking the balloon. They LOVE watching the movement and colour!

Bubbles
Put on music outside if possible or loud enough so you can hear it outside and blow bubbles! Notice how much better you feel when watching bubbles floating everywhere! I don’t think it’s possible to feel crappy when blowing bubbles! Unless one pops in your eye! Watch out for baby’s eyes too by the way.

Bells on a bracelet
Jingle bells attached to a soft band/hair tie/bracelet can be worn on the wrist or ankle and make for great dancing.

Twirling Ribbon
Twirling ribbons like those used in rhythmic gymnastics (but smaller) are also wonderful for movement to music.
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Finger Puppets
These are great for using in children’s songs and can be made as simply as sticking a cardboard figure to a popstick or using felt.

That's all!  If you have anymore ideas I'd LOVE to know about them! 

Have fun!

Nicole

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