A great way to add extra fun to your music sessions with kids is to use props. These can include instruments, puppets, stretchy lycra, or soft toys.
Props can help build musical skills as well as fine and gross motor skills.
In this article, let’s talk about one of our favorite props for kids to use as musical instruments – tappers!
Toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners can play the tappers in so many different ways!
What are tappers?
Traditionally, tappers are called claves. Basically, they comprise two short sticks that you bang together.
Commercially purchased tappers are usually made of wood, plastic, or fibreglass.
You can easily make your own or even use the cardboard inners from the likes of cling film or baking paper.
When struck together they make a bright, interesting sound that children love!
What skills do tappers help develop in kids?
Tappers can be used to develop fine motor skills as children need to learn how to hold one in each hand and then how to produce a sound by striking them together.
They are also great for teaching musical skills such as tapping to the beat, playing softly, playing loudly, playing quickly, and playing slowly.
Tappers will also stretch children’s creativity and listening skills. What are some different ways of playing your tappers? How does this change the sound that they make? Can you use your body to create some different sounds using the tappers?
22 ways to play the tappers:
When you introduce the tappers to the children they might automatically start playing and tapping the sticks together. Watch the video below to learn 22 different ways to play the tappers and how to use them to boost children’s creativity and develop important skills.
Are you a teacher or early childhood educator? Our membership platform for early learning professionals has lots of extra resources to add to our music. Lesson plans, activity ideas, extra trainings, and more. To get a sample, check out our free songs with teaching notes here!