Engaging Sound Games and Activities for Children Aged 5-12: Perfect for Winter, Summer, and Easter Holidays
Educational and Fun Activities
Written by Greg Payne
10 June 2024
🕓 4 min
Keeping children engaged and entertained during the holidays can be a challenge, but sound-based activities are a fantastic way to combine fun with learning. Whether it’s winter, summer, or Easter break, these sound games and activities will spark curiosity, encourage creativity, and provide hours of educational entertainment for children aged 5-12.
In this post, we’ll explore some of the best sound games and activities that are easy to set up at home or outdoors, and can be enjoyed by kids and families alike!.
These activities are designed to be educational, easy to implement, and fun, ensuring that your children have a productive holiday period. We'll also include a subtle guide on how these activities can be incorporated into scheduled workshops, clubs, and events provided by leaders in sound science education, like The Science of Sound (TSOS).
1. Guess That Sound
This simple game is a fun way to develop children’s listening skills. It can be played with household objects or recorded sounds, and it encourages kids to identify everyday noises.
What You’ll Need:
- A variety of objects that make distinctive sounds (e.g., keys jingling, a book closing, a toy squeaking)
- A blindfold (optional)
How to Play:
- Gather several objects that make different sounds.
- Have your child close their eyes or use a blindfold while you make a sound using one of the objects.
- Ask your child to guess what object made the sound. For an extra challenge, use more subtle sounds and see how many they can guess correctly!
Why It’s Fun:
This game sharpens auditory skills and encourages children to think critically about how different objects produce sound. It’s also a great game for multiple players, making it a perfect family activity during the holidays.
2. Musical Statues
This energetic game blends music with movement, giving children a chance to have fun while learning about rhythm and timing. It’s especially great for outdoor play during summer or spring holidays.
What You’ll Need:
- A music player or smartphone with speakers
- Space for dancing
How to Play:
- Play some fun, upbeat music and encourage children to dance around.
- Pause the music at random intervals. When the music stops, the kids have to freeze in place like statues.
- Anyone who moves while the music is paused is out. The last child standing wins!
Why It’s Fun:
Musical Statues combines physical activity with auditory attention, making it a great way to get kids moving while learning to respond to sound cues. It’s perfect for parties or group activities during holiday breaks.
For more music-based activities, check out our post Creating Musical Instruments with Everyday Materials.
3. DIY Rainstick Craft
A creative and calming activity, making a rainstick allows children to explore sound through art. It’s ideal for those quieter days during the winter or Easter holidays when kids need something hands-on and relaxing.
What You’ll Need:
- A cardboard tube (paper towel or wrapping paper tube)
- Rice or small beads
- Aluminium foil
- Tape
- Markers or stickers for decorating
How to Do It:
- Seal one end of the cardboard tube with tape.
- Crumple up a piece of aluminium foil into a spiral and place it inside the tube.
- Add a handful of rice or small beads, then seal the other end of the tube.
- Let your child decorate the outside of the tube however they like.
- Tip the rainstick back and forth to create the sound of rain!
Why It’s Fun:
This DIY project teaches kids how different materials interact to create sound. The soft, calming sound of the rainstick is also a soothing experience, making it a great activity for creative play and learning.
4. Sound Scavenger Hunt
Turn listening into an adventure with a sound scavenger hunt! This game encourages children to listen carefully to their surroundings and identify different sounds. It’s an exciting way to explore sound, whether indoors or outdoors.
What You’ll Need:
- A list of common sounds (e.g., birds chirping, water running, a door closing)
- A timer (optional)
How to Play:
- Create a list of sounds your child needs to find. You can tailor the list to suit your environment, whether it’s in the home or in a park.
- Set a time limit and challenge your child to find and identify all the sounds on the list.
- After they find each sound, ask them to describe how it was made and what objects or elements were involved.
Why It’s Fun:
This activity encourages children to be more aware of the sounds around them and helps develop their auditory perception. It’s also a flexible activity that can be played anywhere, making it perfect for any holiday season.
5. Water Xylophone
This fun and easy activity introduces kids to the science of sound by showing them how water affects pitch. It’s a simple yet effective way to combine music and science during holiday downtime.
What You’ll Need:
- 4-6 glass or plastic cups
- Water
- A spoon
- Food colouring (optional)
How to Do It:
- Fill each cup with different amounts of water.
- If you want, add a few drops of food colouring to each cup for a visual effect.
- Let your child gently tap each glass with a spoon to hear the different pitches.
- Experiment by adding or removing water to change the pitch.
Why It’s Fun:
This activity teaches kids about pitch and sound waves in a hands-on, musical way. Children can also have fun creating tunes with their water xylophone while learning the basics of how sound works.
Final Thoughts
These engaging sound activities are not only fun but also provide valuable learning experiences for children aged 5-12. Whether your child enjoys active games like Musical Statues or creative projects like making a rainstick, these sound-based activities are perfect for keeping kids entertained during the holidays. They’re easy to set up, require minimal materials, and provide hours of fun and education.
To explore even more hands-on science and sound-based activities, consider enrolling your child in our Science of Sound holiday camps. Our camps offer interactive learning experiences that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of sound science. Learn more about our upcoming camps here and give your child an unforgettable holiday experience!
