This list is for parents, grandparents, and all favorite grownups of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. I've collected my favorite instruments, props, and storybooks that your little one will love, and you will too!
Sections
3
Favorite Instruments
Props for Musical Play
Singable Books
Favorite Instruments
Here is a hearty list of my favorite instruments. I've either used them in my own home or in my Music Play classes for years! One way for you to create a musical home is by creating an instrument bin or adding them to your toy room for your little on...
Nearly indestructible, Remo is the one of the best brands for shaky eggs. They also sound way better than the generic ones on Amazon!
Nino Egg Shaker Set, 4 Pieces
A lot of different color options - blue, green, red, pink, yellow!
Nino 8" Hand Drum with Wooden Beater, Sky Blue
Love this little cage bell for babies. Easily wipeable and baby can safely jingle without gnawing on an open jingle bell!
Hohner 5" Handled Cage Bell
A favorite in my Music Play classes, which requires some fine motor coordinator. Great for older toddlers & preschoolers.
Hohner Kids Plastic Clatterpillar
The cutest mini maracas you ever did see! Super durable, too.
LP Rhythmix Santana Chick-Itas Pair
These shakers are made by a fantastic brand and are SO fun for imaginative musical play. The novelty of how lifelike they are is a hit amongst my kiddos!
NINO Fruit Shakers - 4 Pieces
All wood frog rasp which sounds like a croaking frog when played. Add it to your storytime to bring the story to life!
BSIRI 5" Wooden Frog Rasp
Lovely first steel tongue drum to explore sounds. It does come with mallets that are small and can be a choking hazard to little ones who like to chew! Supervision encouraged, but great for older children!
Steel Tongue Hand Drum 6 Inch
This is a set of three hand drums, in three different sizes: 6, 8, and 10 inches. Perfect if you have multiple kiddos! Like most of Remo's offerings, these hand drums have a LOVELY tone. The 6" one is especially great for little hands!
Remo 3-Piece Hand Drum Set
The smallest of lollipop drums at 6" diameter. Great size for little hands.
Remo Lollipop Drum, 6"
Medium sized lollipop drum. This one is 8".
Remo Lollipop Drum, 8"
The BIG lollipop drum. Seriously, the size of your face! Makes a great sound and even older children enjoy it.
Remo Lollipop Drum, 10"
A perfect first drum! I have gifted this drum to so many babies on their first birthday. Put the stick away for later on, let them enjoy playing it with their hands.
Remo Floor Tom Drum - Rhythm Kids, 10"
Baby bongo drums! High quality, great tone and very very durable.
Remo Bongo Drum - Rhythm Kids, 5"-6"
Finger castanets! Can play by clapping or by pinching them, which is fabulous for working on their Pincer Grasp (Hey OTs!)
Hohner Castanets (S303)
Recommended for 4+, this xylophone kit is so fun to explore pitches.
Glockenspiel Xylophone with Songbook & Case
Finger cymbals are great addition to your instrument bin at home.
Andoer 2pcs Finger Cymbals
Jingle bells!!!! A great stocking stuffer that will be played with year round.
POPLAY 6 PCS Wrist Bells Jingle Bells
Great sized tambourine for little hands. Also come in green and pink
Cheerock Pack of 2 Plastic Handheld Tambourines
Babies are mesmerized by this rain stick
2 Pack Rainmaker Rain Stick
A set of three great percussion instruments for baby/toddler. Non-toxic from Green Toys
Green Tones Toddler Musical Instruments Set
Props for Musical Play
Scarves, streamers, puppets, OH MY! These props will encourage your little one in their creative play.
Blow up a balloon in this silk cover for a wonderful lightweight ball. My kids love this for a keepy uppy, but I also love to pass it back and forth, which having a rhythm conversation (chanting short patterns back and forth to eachother).
Sarah's Silks Rainbow Balloon Ball
Sarahs Silks has long been a favorite of mine. I love gifting these mini ones to babies, because the texture is so lovely for sensory play. And peekaboo never gets old!
Sarah's Silks Mini Playsilks -Set of 6
The rainbow silk scarf is favorite for it's beautiful colors.
Enchanted Playsilk - Rainbow
Two mini playsilks, starry night & rainbow. Amazing stocking stuffer that will get played with again and again.
Sarah's Silks - 2 Mini Playsilks, Rainbow & Night
Rainbow streamers! Another great stocking stuffer, especially for 3-4 year olds.
2 Pack Rainbow Hand Kites
Mini tortoise puppet for little hands.
Folkmanis Mini Tortoise Finger Puppet
Mini kitty cat puppet
Folkmanis Mini Tabby Cat Finger Puppet
A great addition to 5 little monkeys on the bed!
Folkmanis Mini Monkey Finger Puppet , Brown
Bring all of your favorite farm songs to life with these adorable finger puppets. Also love having “conversations” between the puppets
Mud Pie Barnyard Finger Puppet Set
The cutest little baby penugin finger puppet!
Folkmanis Mini Emperor Penguin Baby Finger Puppet
Owl puppets are a great way for your child to find their singing voice when they imiate their sound “hoo hoo”
Folkmanis Mini Spotted Owl Finger Puppet
Love making the butterfly finger puppets dance and practice our FLOW aka connected, continuous movement.
Folkmanis Mini Monarch Butterfly Finger Puppet
Hop little bunny, hop hop hop!
Folkmanis Mini Lop Earred Rabbit Finger Puppet
For the child that loves turtles!
Folkmanis Mini Turtle Finger Puppet
A great addition for duck songs like 5 Little Ducks
Folkmanis Mini Duckling Finger Puppet
A collection of 4 finger puppets from the forest
Folkmanis Woodland Animal Finger Puppet Set
A voice amplifying microphone for kids that has NO batteries! My 3 year old is getting this for Christmas this year. A great tool for playing echo tonal or rhythm games.
Hape Mighty Echo Battery-Free Microphone
love these rainbow streamers from Sarah's Silk. Basically like wearing a scrunchi on your wrist!
Sarah's Silks Rainbow Wrist Streamers - 2pcs
Singable Books
Sing to the tune of Deck The Halls :)
Moo, Baa, Fa La La La La!
Sing to the tune of The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The Itsy Bitsy Snowman
Sing to the tune of The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The Itsy Bitsy Reindeer
Flaps to keep your little one engaged and sung to the traditional Christmas Carol!
The 12 Days of Christmas: A lift-the-tab book
A beautiful story of winter creatures set to the carol “O Christmas Tree”
O Christmas Tree!: A Christmas Song
Interactive board book with moveable parts to the tune of Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells: Sing Along With Me!
A familiar tune turned story - with fun sliders to make the scenes move.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas: Sing Along With Me!
An adorable book that plays the first line of each Christmas carol AND introduces your child to musical notation in a natural way.
The Christmas Songbook: 8 Classic Carols
An adorable counting book that can be chanted in rhythm to your little.
Ten on the Sled
A Christmas version of the nursery rhyme “5 Little Monkeys”.
Five Little Monkeys Looking for Santa
A great counting book that follows some snowy animals.
Ten Sparkly Snowflakes: Twinkly Countdown Fun!
Perfect Christmas board book for babies.
Fa La La (Leslie Patricelli board books)
A great counting book about reindeers!
Ten Little Reindeer
A beautiful book of Christmas carols with pictures AND musical notation. This will be one you will go back to, year after year. A great way to show introduce your child to musical notation, while you sing & read with them.
Tomie dePaola's Book of Christmas Carols
This is a little board book with a built in finger puppet!
