Little Buddy’s nursery gave us a bag of music instruments to carry out activities with the Little Buddy at home, and write our observations down, as part of a Home Learning Environment (“HLE”) initiative.

Our observations are below:

• Not so keen on playing on his own with no purpose, but very happy to play to a tune with others
  • Child-initiated play: We laid out all the instruments on the coffee table and sat him down at the table; he tries the tambourine, then uses a drumstick to hit the tambourine (like a drum) but , but he quickly gets bored and asked for books
  • Adult-led play: We demonstrated the other instruments to get Little Buddy interested, but he continues asking for books
  • Extension of play: We switched on some songs, picked up the instruments, and start playing to music – this really engages the Little Buddy and he starts playing enthusiastically
• Little Buddy likes leading, i.e. being the noisiest one
  • e.g. often asking to swap instruments when ours are louder
• He is curious and tries all instruments
• His favourite technique is percussion (drumming) and he is innovative in applying his technique
  • Combines instruments together or with the environment (he uses all the instruments, including cymbals to hit/drum another instrument – usually the tambourine – or surfaces, e.g. the table, floor)
• He demonstrates good coordination – sometimes he uses one hand to shake the jingle bells, and another hand to use the drumstick to drum the tambourine surface
• He plays in rhythm, semi in tune, stopping when the music stops, and asks for “more” when the music stops
• He takes it seriously: has a very serious face when playing
• After a while, he gets bored of the small instruments and requests the piano

Here is a video of Little Baby jamming way:

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Resources on play & extending play:

1. Facilitating and supporting children’s play
2. Extend learning
3. Learning schemas
4. Learning, Playing, Interacting
5. Learning through play