Exploring Sound with Balloons

One thing guaranteed to fill half an hour with giggles for a three year old is a balloon. My son’s favourite thing to do at the moment is to (have me) blow a balloon up, hold it without a knot and then let it fly around the room. He loves trying to catch it, following every movement with his eyes, and he loves the sound it makes. Taking this cue, I decided to spend some time with him exploring all the different sounds a balloon can make.

The wonderful thing about sounds and balloons is the wide variety. There are loud and soft sounds which encourage both belly laughs and quiet patience. It is fun to try to imitate the sounds. This is great for developing speech and giving young children confidence in their voice.

After letting a full balloon fly around the room a few times, I needed a rest from blowing it up. So we made some sounds with a deflated balloon. We made it snap by stretching it and letting go of one side near the floor. Then we made it go "boing" very quietly as we stretched and loosened it quickly.

Stretching the Balloon

Once the balloon is blown up, listening to the air escape is hilarious. We heard the classic raspberry as it flew around the room and made a screech when we pulled the end open.

Screeeeeeeech! (My son took this picture - very proud)

 

The full balloon makes a very satisfying "doof" and "boom" when hit on objects around the room. My son enjoyed hitting things he usually can’t, including my head! It was very satisfying for him. Scraping a finger over the surface of the balloon gave an odd scraping noise. He called it "binga-binga"!

Making More Noise on the Balloon

Copying the sounds was fun - slow at first but he soon got the hang of it. Maybe he’ll be more inclined to make an effort when his little brother is giving some noise competition!

I’m sure there are more sounds to be made with balloons. I’d love to read about them in the comments, let me know what you hear.

Balloon on Balcony

Driving Cars on Corrugated Card

I’m not sure if this is an activity or just a really easy way to fill some time, or both! We started off looking for some cardboard to frame a couple of photos. B chose the corrugated sheet and was immediately engrossed with it. He scratched it, poked at it, twisted it. We had used corrugated card before, but it was a while ago, and I could see a new fascination with it.

It seemed counterintuitive to stand and watch or give comment. So I left him alone. A long while later I found him driving his cars from one end of the room to the other, across the corrugated card to a parking lot on the carpet. He had also drawn on the card since I had left. He looked very happy and completely engrossed in his work.

Later, as I took photos, he told me all about the cars’ journey and how they went bumpity bump across the card.

Completely Engrossed

Bumpity Bump Bump!

Rice Pudding Recipe

This is an activity which involves many different skills. Over all I like the idea that my son can see a variety of materials mixed and cooked to create an entirely different substance, and one which tastes wonderful. I use Delia Smith’s recipe as it is very simple and almost fool proof. Rice pudding is a great dish to make with children of all ages as anything dropped or spilt can be swept or wiped up in a matter of seconds.

This is what you need:
One eager child.
½ cup (110g) of pudding rice
2 dessert spoons (40g) of sugar
1 can of evaporated milk (not the sweetened kind) mix with whole milk to make 900ml
Small amount of butter - around 20g
Ground cinnamon or nutmeg
A large baking dish we use a glass dish, 10 by 20 cm, which is a little large but good for little hands to play in.

Set the oven to gas mark 2/150c/300f


What to do:
1. Give the rice to the child. Let him pour it into the dish. Allow time for the sound and texture to register on the ears and fingers.
2. Ask the child to measure the sugar and mix it into the rice. This will blend naturally in 2-3 minutes as the child explores the difference between the rice and sugar.
3. Show the child how to pour the milk mixture slowly into the rice and sugar. Don’t worry if some spills, it won’t ruin the flavour of the pudding.
4. Next drop some chunks of butter on the top. The butter can be mixed and/or dropped over and over if the child wants. Splashes can be wiped up in a matter of seconds and shouldn’t add too much time to the preparation of this dish.
5. Finally sprinkle cinnamon over the top and watch the look of amazement on the child’s face as the powder settles on the surface. Allow time for the child to play and watch the patterns form on the surface.
6. Place dish in the oven making sure the child stands a safe distance away. With or without the child, stir after 30 minutes, and again after another 30 minutes then remove from the oven after another 60 minutes. Allow to cool and serve.

Some experiences for the child:

• Hearing the sounds of different substances hitting the dish
• Mixing and feeling different ingredients - grains, liquid and powder
• Measuring ingredients
• Using fine and gross motor skills when pouring, mixing and playing
• Seeing liquid move in different ways