Musical Activities for Young Children

Know the benefits of musical activities for young children.

Additional details

Learners need to understand the benefits of different musical activities for different age ranges. This may be groups according to:

• singing e.g. different songs, singing rhymes
• playing e.g. using instruments and everyday objects to create sounds
• listening e.g. listening to different sounds both indoors and outdoors
• moving e.g. dancing, moving to music, actions

Although learners are not expected to have an in-depth knowledge of child development it may be helpful to consider the benefits of musical activities according to different developmental areas for example:

• physical development - hand and eye co-ordination, gross motor skills when dancing
• social and emotional development - fun, pleasure, working with others, time with carer
• cognitive development - concentration, need to remember words, rhythms 

Assessment Criteria

• 1.1
  List musical activities suitable for the following aged children:
  •babies under 6 months
  •young children 1 to 2 years
  •young children 3 to 5 years.
• 1.2
  Identify the benefits for the child for each activity listed.

Know how to make musical activities or musical games for young children.

Additional details

In this learning outcome, learners will describe a musical activity or game for a specific age of child or children. This can follow on from learning outcome 1 as it can involve singing, moving, playing or listening or a combination of more than one. The learner then needs to consider the value of the game or activity and the learning that may take place for children taking part in the activity. 

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1
  Describe how to make a musical activity or musical game for young children.
• 2.2
  Identify the value to young children of chosen musical activity or musical game.
• 2.3
  Identify the learning that could take place for young children taking part in chosen musical activity or musical game.