X is for Xylophone Sensory Play

Affiliate and Referral links are used below to promote products I love and recommend. I receive a commission on any purchases made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Today we have Helen of Witty Hoots sharing with you all for the A-Z's of Sensory Play for Kids series. She has some great ideas for Xylophone sensory play!

We are exploring X is for Xylophone and how this instrument can be used as part of sensory play. The beauty of a xylophone is that not only is it an instrument that can be heard but it can also make vibrations that can be felt on the skin too.

Xylophone sensory play ideas for kids. www.GoldenReflectionsBlog.com

Xylophones and Similar instruments

Xylophones tend to be made from wood. Each bar is a different length to create a different sound. Shorter lengths have a higher pitch ad longer lengths have a lower pitch. There are all sorts of different types of xylophone that have developed throughout the world. Plus instruments such as the Marimba that look very similar to a xylophone. Metal ‘xylophones’ tend to be classed as glockenspiels and are tuned differently.

Beaters or Mallets

These can be hard round headed beaters which make a louder shorter note and there are soft round headed beaters that give a more mellow tone. You can also use smaller mallet shaped beaters which are similar to a piano beater.

Ideas for Xylophones and Sensory Play

We would advise that for the first part of your sensory session you just give the child a variety of beaters and just let them make lots of noise which is great fun!

Once they novelty of ‘hitting something with a stick’ has worn off then you can start to show them how to listen to the notes and feel the vibrations. Place the xylophone on the child’s lap and let them gently tap the wooden bars. Ask if they can feel the vibration on their legs. Try different beaters, hitting softly and loudly and using their hands or fingers to pat out a rhythm on the instrument.

Xylophone sensory play ideas for kids. www.GoldenReflectionsBlog.com

Blind Man’s Bluff Game 
Take a blind fold and cover the child’s eyes. Place their hand on the xylophone. Gently tap one of the notes. The child has to ‘find’ which bar is being played by finding the vibration through their hands and fingers. Take turns to find out if they can start to hear the difference between the notes and recall where the notes are through both memory and sensory experience.

Body Movements, Dancing and Xylophone Music

Make up some funny moves to the musical notes played on the xylophone. Try and match the movements to the sounds. Fast high notes for quick movements and slow soft notes for slow movements. Encourage your child to stretch or curl up into different shapes and don’t forget to model ideas by joining in too!

Xylophone Robots! – Listening and Following Instructions by Xylophone notes 

This is a wonderful way to carry on from the Body Movements idea. It is also a great way to tune in a child’s ear to musical notes and encourages listening for instructions too.

Agree on some particular movements to a go with a particular note or rhythm – for example quick high notes could mean marching on the spot, a single low beat could mean jumping slowly up and down, scales going high to low and back could mean crawling on the floor.

This is a great idea if you have two children – one can play the notes and ‘control’ the other by the types of notes & rhythms they are playing. Remind them that they are taking turns and try to get different sound and body movements per turn.

Making Up Music

Try to let everyone have a chance to make up a piece of music too or listen to some xylophone music – Danse Macabre by Saint-Saëns is a great piece to start off with but there are LOTS of different types of xylophone & marimba music out there!

Other posts from Witty Hoots: 

Xylophone sensory play ideas for kids. www.GoldenReflectionsBlog.com


About Helen and Witty Hoots:

Helen is a former primary school teacher and art historian. She writes for Witty Hoots which is a family focused blog. Her children love playing and learning at the same time. Since her daughter started school in September, Helen has been keen to balance her school time with play sessions that allow her to explore, learn and just have fun. Helen’s eldest child has a keen interest in music and hope to study music at University. She continues to explore sounds, music and movement and share this through her blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

For more sensory play ideas, be sure to follow my Sensory Fun Pinterest board and the A-Z's of Sensory Play for Kids series.

 

Follow Heather @ Golden Reflections Blog's board Sensory Fun on Pinterest.
A-Z's of Sensory Play Ideas for Kids Series. www.GoldenReflectionsBlog.com

Heather Greutman, COTA

Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with experience in school-based OT services for preschool through high school. She uses her background to share child development tips, tools, and strategies for parents, educators, and therapists. She is the author of many ebooks including The Basics of Fine Motor Skills, and Basics of Pre-Writing Skills, and co-author of Sensory Processing Explained: A Handbook for Parents and Educators.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

CONTENT DISCLAIMER: Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
All information on the Website is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for medical advice from a physician or your pediatrician. Please consult with a medical professional if you suspect any medical or developmental issues with your child. The information on the Websites does not replace the relationship between therapist and client in a one-on-one treatment session with an individualized treatment plan based on their professional evaluation. The information provided on the Website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied.

Do not rely on the information on the Website as an alternative to advice from your medical professional or healthcare provider. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment as a result of any information provided on the Website. All medical information on the Website is for informational purposes only.

All activities outlined on the Website are designed for completion with adult supervision. Please use your own judgment with your child and do not provide objects that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Never leave a child unattended during these activities. Please be aware of and follow all age recommendations on all products used in these activities. Growing Hands-On Kids is not liable for any injury when replicating any of the activities found on this blog.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY The Website was developed strictly for informational purposes. You understand and agree that you are fully responsible for your use of the information provided on the Website. Growing Hands-On Kids makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees. You understand that results may vary from person to person. Growing Hands-On Kids assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions that may appear on the Website.