Twelve Bells Band
What you need
- jingle bells on a strap, or a bottle of bells with the lid taped shut
- a saucepan and a wooden spoon
How to do it
- Set out the band away from the tree: the bells for your child, the saucepan and spoon for you.
- Play twelve rings together, counting out loud: one jingle, two jingles, all the way to twelve.
- Take turns being the leader: the leader plays a pattern, like jingle, jingle, bang, and the other copies it.
- Sing "Jingle Bells" and play along, loud on the chorus and quiet on the verse.
- Finish with twelve slow, quiet rings, counting in a whisper.
Why it matters
Counting each ring to twelve joins numbers to sounds, and copying a pattern is careful listening.
What they're learning
- Counting
- One ring for each number is counting with their whole body.
- Copying a pattern
- Hearing jingle, jingle, bang and playing it back takes listening and memory.
- Loud and quiet
- Playing softly on purpose takes control.
What to look for
Watch for them stopping at twelve without you, or getting the pattern right first time.
A tip
Bells sealed in a bottle or sewn onto a strap are best. Keep any loose bells away from younger children.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: count to five, then start again
Harder: count backwards from twelve to one, ringing once for each number
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