Music Theme for Preschoolers
Boogie and shake through a music theme for preschoolers with these fun activities and books. Plus, music helps to boost development!
Why Teach Preschoolers About Music
Increases Cognitive Development
Learning new songs is a beautiful way to boost memory and attention. Learning rhythms, patterns, and beats is a foundation for early math skills. Music helps introduce vocabulary, rhymes, and patterns.
Encourages Emotional Growth
Singing, dancing, or playing instruments can help reduce anxiety and boost self-esteem. Music provides an outlet for creativity and is a fun way to express emotions.
Strengthen Motor Skills
Playing musical instruments like tambourines, maracas, and drums develops fine motor skills, while dancing and moving around builds gross motor skills.
Builds Cultural Awareness
Different instruments and music styles can be introduced to preschoolers to help little ones appreciate diverse cultures and traditions.
This article may contain affiliate links to products that may help you when homeschooling preschool.
Books to Use with a Music Theme
Introduce a music theme with Books About Music for Preschoolers. There are books about the orchestra, inspiring musicians, and many more!
Activities for a Music Theme
DIY Instruments
Every music theme needs some instruments! Whether hands clap or toes tap, instruments are everywhere—even in your recycling bin!
Make DIY maracas and rainsticks, and flip over some bowls or pots to make drums.
Rhythm Sticks
Make rhythm sticks from twigs, wooden spoons, or dowels. Try tapping out different patterns, such as tap-tap-roll or tap-clap-tap.
Freeze Dance
Turn on some music and let little ones dance. When the music stops, the dancers freeze in the position they were doing when the music stopped.
Music doesn’t have to come from a device, either. A homemade drum or a kazoo is a fun way to let little ones control the music.
Parachute Play
Who has a parachute readily available? Not me! But rest assured, there is no need to fret.
A blanket or large sheet makes a great parachute!
Move and shake the parachute to the beat of music.
Song Stories
Sing some classic songs with actions to accompany them, like “Wheels on the Bus,” “If You Are Happy And You Know It,” and “I’m a Little Tea Pot.”
Sound Explorers
Create a sound table with different items, such as bells, bowls, rubber bands, and wooden spoons. Encourage little ones to investigate different sounds made with these items.
They can also explore the house to hear how things sound when they are tapped. (You may want to set some boundaries with this one—no TVs or glass things to be lightly tapped.) 😉
Scarf Dancing
Swirl scarves (hand towels, T-shirts, or fabric napkins) in the air as music is played. Upbeat songs can be played for fast movements. Calm, gentle movements can be used when soft music is played.
Name That Sound
Play recordings of different things (birds chirping, cows mooing, clapping, bells ringing, etc.). Have preschoolers guess what the sound was.
This music theme activity can also be played with things around the house! Closing a cabinet, opening the fridge, or zipping up a coat all make for fun sounds to guess.
Music Art
Play music and have little ones paint how the music makes them feel.
Nature Music Hunt
Take a nature walk and listen to nature’s music, like the wind swishing, birds chirping, and squirrels scurrying around.
Music Unit for Preschoolers
A music theme perfectly creates a playful yet powerful way to boost preschoolers’ development. Put some music on, grab homemade instruments, and get rockin’ with your preschoolers. 🎵
