[Music-themed Educational Toys] A roundup of toys that let you enjoy sounds
If you have little ones, you probably often find yourself wondering, “What kind of toys should I let them play with?” The more you look in stores or online, the more you’ll come across educational toys.
In this article, we’ll be introducing sound-making toys and music-themed educational toys.
We’ve got options ranging from toys for babies who can’t talk yet to items that even elementary school kids can enjoy.
This is also a great guide if you’re looking for gifts for nieces and nephews or for your friends’ children!
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[Music-Themed Educational Toys] A roundup of toys for enjoying sounds (1–10)
Melodina
Let me introduce Melodina, a toy that lets you make your own music box.
It’s the kind of toy that surprisingly didn’t exist before, so it’s great for anyone who wants to try building a music box themselves, as well as for kids! By inserting pins wherever you like on a circular part called a melody disc, you can handcraft a music box to your taste.
It comes with basic sheet music, but by changing the pin positions you can also change the scale and create your own original melodies.
You can even save the melodies you’ve made by recording the hole positions on the included paper discs, which is really convenient.
foot-operated piano
Let us introduce a foot-operated piano that’s perfect as a Christmas or birthday gift.
Its giant size will make kids’ faces light up with surprise! You can play freely by stepping on the keys to produce sounds, and it also features built-in demo tracks like “Edelweiss” and “Für Elise.” In addition to piano, it can produce eight different instrument sounds such as violin and trumpet, expanding the range of performances.
It’s a toy that both children and adults can enjoy, so be sure to check it out.
mini xylophone
The mini xylophone is a miniature wooden xylophone that even small children can play.
Because it can be placed on a desk or on the floor to be played, it’s a great choice for a child’s first instrument.
Made of wood, it produces a warm tone, and exposing children to high-quality sounds from an early age can nurture their sensitivity.
Many children can start striking it by themselves around age one, but it’s also nice for mom or dad to play it for them at first.
It would make a delightful gift for a newborn celebration, a birthday, or Christmas.
[Music Education Toys] A roundup of toys for enjoying sounds (11–20)
toy microphone
Let us introduce toy microphones that kids will love.
There are lots of unique products, including ones that add reverb to the voice, play various music tracks, speak preset lines, or feature voice-changing functions.
Microphones featuring your child’s favorite characters are adorable and sure to be a hit.
Experiencing different sounds is important for nurturing sensitivity, so we highly recommend letting little ones play with sound-making toys from an early age.
They’re easy to buy at toy stores, making them great gifts as well.
den-den daiko (Japanese pellet drum)
The den-den daiko has long been used as a rattle to soothe small children.
It’s designed so that when you shake it, it makes a sound: strings with beads are attached on both sides of a drum with a handle.
You often see it in period dramas in scenes where a mother is comforting her child.
It’s said that if you sound a den-den daiko when a baby cries, the baby may stop, so it might be worth a try.
They’re often sold as folk crafts, so try looking for one!
castanet
Among percussion instruments, castanets are one of the easiest to try.
They’ve long been used in children’s music education.
For kids’ castanets, I recommend ones painted red and blue on the top and bottom—this makes it easy to explain which side to tap.
Since they’re wooden, they feel good in the hand and are easy to handle.
From around upper elementary grades, unpainted, wood-grain castanets might be a nice option that doesn’t look too childish.
Be sure to check them out!
tambourine
Among musical instruments, the tambourine is an easy one to enjoy with children.
It’s a fun percussion instrument that makes sound right away when you hit or shake it.
There’s a wide variety, from large, professional models to small ones perfect for kids, so it’s a good idea to choose according to your child’s age.
To enrich young children’s sensitivity, it’s very important to let them handle instruments and try making sounds.
Be sure to check them out at a music store.