Five Musical Games You Can Play at Home With Your Kids

Sharing is caring!

When you want your kids to be engaged with the world of music, you are likely looking for musical games, toys, and activities that are fun for them. This is something that is going to change your life and keep your kids happy because it does not involve any screen time. However, you need to make sure that these games are actually fun or that you use these toys in a way that works for everyone.

As you read through the list, you are not bound by our ideas. If you have a better idea, go for it, but these are just nice things to do around the house with the kids. You should not feel like there is just one idea that works with each item. Musical games at home are a great way to spend time with your child, stimulate their curiosity, or even lay the groundwork for formal piano tuition in London or other musical pursuits.

1. Piano Mats

Piano mats are always a good place to start because they come with musical tones and animal sounds or just fun noises. The kids get to step on these mats and play their own songs. You should let them do whatever they want, but you can show them how to play simple songs on the keyboard. They will get used to playing some of those simpler songs, and then they will start making up their own songs. This doesn’t need to feel like a composition lesson with John Corgiliano. You just want the kids to do their own thing and get exposed to music.

2. Boom Sticks

Boom sticks are fun because they are color-coded and have different pitches based on the color of each stick. You can teach the kids to play songs with these sticks, and you can also make it easier for the kids to have fun getting their yayas out. They need that, and they can play songs when they are not going crazy. You could also play games with the kids where you give them some of the notes, and you start the songthey have to pick the next noteand you keep guessing until you have a whole song.

For example, you have the first two notes of Mary Had a Little Lamb, but one of your kids has the next two. You are teaching them how to put these songs together and use their ears. 

3. Freeze Dance

Freeze Dance is like musical chairs with music and dancing. Turn the music on and the kids go wild. Turn the music off and they stop. You are teaching them how to follow simple instructions, but you should also stop at odd points during the song. You want them to feel a little weird like that’s not where we should stop. By doing that, they get a good feel for music. 

4. Name That Tune

Name That Tune is one of the most popular and oft-quoted game shows of all time. You can play that game with the kids using a quick start and stop on an iPod or music listening app. Ask the kids if they can name that tune in one second, two, or more. If you have a piano, ask them how many notes they need when they want to name the song. This can be a fun game where you train their ears and they don’t even know it – and you didn’t even have to pay for singing lessons to get them started.

5. Home Drum Circle

A home drum circle requires a few simple drums or percussion instruments and a circle. You should sit in the circle with different instruments and lead the kids in a jam session. Let them play as much as they want. However, you need to stop, exchange instruments, and keep going. You are teaching the kids to think on their feet, solve problems, and make up new musical ideas. A kid that has the tiny glockenspiel at the beginning of the game has to transition to a drum and make up something completely new. 

Honorable Mention

If you have a gaming console, there is nothing wrong with playing Let’s Dance and Guitar Hero. Both of these games are perfect for your kids because they learn coordination, how music works, and can entertain themselves for long periods of time. You can even play these games as a family just to see who’s the winner. 

Which Games Are Right for You?

You should make sure that you are looking for a simple way to expose your kids to music that is just right for your family. There are a lot of people who would like to get their kids to love music, but the kids also need to learn how music works without sitting in a class. Forget all that boring theory and lesson stuff. Let your kids play and try all these games and toys. Leave these toys around the house because they are still fun to play with long after your kids start lessons and get serious about music. Plus, you can pass these items down to your kids when they have their own kids.

Courtney P.

I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!

Sharing is caring!