Calling all composers

Make musical instruments with your child: a shaker from a frozen orange juice container filled with rice or beans, a drum from an empty oatmeal container or a tambourine from two aluminum pie plates.

Use the instruments to accompany a well-known song, or create a rhythm of your own—and a dance to go with it. Encourage your child to move his or her whole body to the music. Tiptoe to a lullaby, or march to a marching song.