Your Child Will Learn
Shaking a hollow object with many small parts inside can make sounds
Here’s What to Do
- Halfway fill 3-4 small clear plastic bottles with different smaller objects like rice, corn kernels, dry beans, dry seeds, nuts, cereal, dry pasta, etc.
- Make sure the top of the bottle is tightly secured by wrapping a few layers of durable tape around it
- Place the bottles in front of your baby, then model shaking one bottle at a time
- When your baby grabs a bottle and shakes it, mimic their movement with another bottle
Put PEER Into Action
PAUSE
- Get on eye-level with your baby for this activity
ENGAGE
- Melodically and softly shake the bottles close to your baby’s ear
- Count, sing, or say a rhyme while the shaking the bottles
ENCOURAGE
- Your baby may not shake the bottles right away, so give them time to handle and observe the bottles
- When your baby shakes the bottles say “that’s right, shake it again”!
REFLECT
- What was your baby’s reaction to this activity?
Not Quite Ready
Place your baby in your lap, holding and shaking the bottles until they independently grasp and shake the bottles on their own
Ready for More
Play music while doing this activity to see if your baby will shake the bottles in rhythmic ways
As Your Child Masters This Skill
They will grasp and move different objects to hear the sounds they make
Time to Complete
10 minutes
Materials Needed
Small clear plastic bottles, durable tape, small objects (rice, corn kernels, dry beans, dry seeds, nuts, cereal, etc.)