Remember the joy of banging on pots and pans or the squeak of grass when you blew on it as a kid? Today is World Music Day, so it’s time to make some noise! Making music is an awesome way to play with your baby (and kick start your own creativity by turning almost any household item into an instrument). Here are a few starters:

Shake It Like You Mean It
Have an empty water bottle and some dried beans? Then you can have a maraca in under a minute. Put a handful of beans (you can use rice or small stones as an alternative) in a water bottle and secure the lid tightly so your mischievous lil’ one can get shaking. Introduce your little guy to rhythms by first showing him different shakes and then letting him rock out.

Baby Boomer
Get your little guy behind his first set of drums today. Head into your kitchen, grab an assortment of pots and lids from your kitchen and lay them out on the floor (leave the good stuff behind, though). Grab 2 wooden spoons- one for you, one for baby. Show him how to bang on the pans. He’ll be giggling and banging along as you play with different sounds. Who knows you- may have little drummer boy in the family!

Zany Xylophone
You may remember from science class (or any boring business banquet) that different levels of water in glasses make different notes. Grab 5 glasses with different shapes and sizes. Fill each glass with a different amount of water (but keep it low to prevent spills). Place the glasses in a row and tap your wooden spoon lightly against the glasses to let him hear the different pitches and sounds. Once you’ve engaged his curiosity (and gotten over how cute he looks completely wowed by what he hears), pass him the spoon and start making music together.

Homegrown Harmonica
A comb and a piece of tissue paper can become baby’s first harmonica. Fold a piece of tissue paper over the toothed side of a clean comb, covering the comb as completely as possible. Now hum against the paper (like a kazoo). You should be able to make different sounds and your cutie will be giggling for sure. What’s even more awesome? This instrument can go straight in your bag for music on the go.

Jingle Bells
If you have small bells around and a small length of ribbon (or even an extra shoelace), you’re well on your way to making a set of jingletastic shoes for baby that will make music with every step! String one bell with ribbon and tie to your baby’s shoe. He can dance around and have fun with the music he’s making.

Want to one up baby’s musicality? Play along with our new Baby Einstein Sing and Play CD! to keep baby dancing and get him acquainted with classics like Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and Old Macdonald. The punk rock can wait til he’s a teenager. ;)

Get more ideas from Baby Einstein fave, Julie Clark.