Hum and Guess
What you need
- a comfy chair or sofa to curl up on
How to do it
- Curl up together somewhere comfy.
- Hum a song they know well, with no words.
- Ask 'what song is that?' and let them guess.
- Swap: they hum and you guess.
Why it matters
Recognising a song from the tune alone is careful listening, and humming is a calm, quiet way to play.
What they're learning
- Listening
- Knowing a song with no words is hearing the tune itself.
- Remembering songs
- Matching a hum to a song they know is calling up a memory.
- Taking turns
- Hummer and guesser swap.
What to look for
Watch for them starting to sing the words along with your hum.
A tip
Pick songs they hear often. The surprise of guessing right is the fun of it.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: hum the first line, then sing a word to help
Harder: hum it a bit faster or slower and see if they still know it
