May 2nd, 2008 Toddler play activity 3 Posted by Melitsa in Education, play activities

This is part 3 of a series looking at everyday play activities and toys for toddlers.

Echo Microphone

Why he likes it?

• He can shout- legitimately, into the microphone.
• He can hear his voice.
• He loves to try to make different sounds, talk, vary the pitch and imitate what he can hear.
• He can take it anywhere, including his favourite place the bath ( extra echo effects).

• Dances about infront of the mirror singing a song.
• He can get ‘crowd’ participation and interaction by pushing the microphone into everyones unsuspecting face and demanding they sing or say something…. No luck with the dog yet though

Why we like it?

• Inexpensive.
• He sings nursery rhymes and VeggieTale songs.
• He likes to sing to the music so wants to put on a cd.
• He’s always in a good mood when he takes up the microphone. It’s one thing that doesn’t get thrown but put down.
• Encourages confidence to try words in a fun situation.
• It’s a toy he revisits time and again spontaneously.
• He controls the sounds instead of passively pushing buttons with an electronic toy that he doesn’t/won’t imitate.

This was a toy I walked by many times before I thought to get it. I would especially recommend it for the toddler age where they are experimenting so much with language and getting their mouth around words. It’s a fun way to play with language and communication. Even more so for those toddlers struggling with language.

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