Shaking eggs has always been a favorite instrument of mine while working with young children both in a traditional classroom format and in Zumbini®. Eggs are super fun, easy to create a sound, and portable for these little movers!
One of my favorite things about eggs is how easy it is to create sounds. Just turning an egg over makes a sound. All children, regardless of age or developmental level, are able to create a sound with this instrument, even if they drop it! There’s also a fun change in dynamics with eggs. While they can be loud when shaken quickly in a group, these are generally quieter instruments. One exception is when we ask children to shake them gently right next to their ears; that sound is so loud it’s surprising!
The shape of these eggs is another reason anyone can create sound.
They fit perfectly in the palm of an adult hand, and they are an ideal size for gripping in young children’s hands. For the youngest babies, it looks more like they are gripping a baseball while using their whole hand. This type of grip strengthens different hand muscles than gripping sticks or bells.
And, of course, musical eggs are just as delicious as food eggs!
I like to assume these are super delicious to little ones because the name itself is food! While exploring how this instrument creates sounds by placing it in their mouth, little ones are also figuring out the shape, size, and texture of eggs that are different from all other instruments. How can this distinct oval shape have smooth sides and no edges? (Again, no worries, eggs are cleaned after every class!)
Go to a Zumbini® class soon, where you and your little one will get to shake some eggs, make some music, and make lots of memories together!
