40 Best Music Games For Kids To Develop Musical Skills

Oct 18, 2024

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Help your child boost their creative interests.

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Music games for kids are a great way to teach them about the different genres of music. Music is certainly relaxing, and many consider it food for the soul. Exposing your child to different kinds of music and melodies, whether rock, classical, hip-hop, or pop, could inspire them to pick it up as a hobby and possibly a career too.

Watching musical performances may also help improve their listening skills. Music can positively impact children’s minds, as research suggests. In fact, musical education and training may enable a child’s brain to develop faster (1). It can also add more fun and frolic to the regular games they play every day.

This article features different engaging musical games for kids of all age groups to foster their musical skills, creativity, and collaborative abilities while ensuring a fun learning experience.

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The idea of fun with music usually involves dancing. But is that the only choice? Well, no. Keep reading to find out.

Make your own music is a fun hand-clapping game for kids with a twist. It requires children to clap their hands or stomp their feet in rhythm, creating simple musical patterns or beats. This cool idea can be implemented in music classes to encourage a child’s interest in music in a fun and entertaining way.

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They will clap, they will snap, and clap again before stomping their feet and hitting the desks…! And all of this will be music to their ears! Besides, music composition also encourages creativity in children.

This game brings the best of both worlds – art or drawing and music – to bring out whatever talent the child has. The game is played best in groups or classrooms.

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Note – You can also put these instructions on a chart, big enough for the children to see and play the game.

This is a warm-up game that works with choir groups or just a group of music students at a school.

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You can use only one word or mix up the two words to make it confusing and fun for the kids.

This energetic game puts a playful spin on the classic musical chairs by adding a fashion twist.

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You can feel free to add silly dance moves or silly walks as the children pass the bag for an extra dose of fun.

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This musical hide and seek is played with objects and is an excellent tool to help the child improve his listening skills.

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The more the child plays it, the better his listening skills get.

Nursery rhymes are a delightful way to introduce young children to the world of language and music. Their simple rhythm and catchy tunes make them perfect for early childhood learning.

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This engaging activity offers multiple benefits to young children, including improved language skills, musical development, and memory boost.

The passing game is a popular party activity that can engage kids for a long time.

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The game is played until all the layers are unwrapped. Or you can have multiple parcels and play until there is just one person left.

This is a variation of the regular musical chairs party game and can be played in a class to encourage reading or recitation.

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This can be a fun and impartial way to pick students for activities.

How does the guitar sound? What is the sound of the cello? If you want your child to identify and learn how different instruments sound, you should try this game.

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You can make each level more complicated by playing songs with not-so-distinct instrument sounds.

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A quiz about music? Why not! If you want an activity for a music class, have trivia questions relating to musical notes or tunes. Otherwise, it could just be about your kid’s favorite bands or singers and their songs!

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Like spin the bottle, spin the mic is a chance game that can be customized any way you want. You can play truth or dare, or turn it into a trivia game or a karaoke event.

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You could make this an elimination game where the person gets to move out of the circle after the activity and new people can join in to replace them.

A popular local game played in India and the Middle East, Antakshari is a parlor game played in teams. It usually involves singing movie soundtracks or regional movie songs. However, you can add some twist to this classic game and allow them to sing any kid-friendly songs they like.

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The team with the highest number of points wins. You can make variations of this game to make it interesting. For instance, you can have different rounds or levels in the game where the kids have to sing songs only from a particular genre or a particular generation or by a particular type of band.

Simple but pure fun, karaoke is one thing you can enjoy with family as well as friends.

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You could score them on tune and tone but avoid judging their singing voice. To make the competition challenging, throw in a few songs that they are not familiar with. That way, they’ll have to use whatever music knowledge they have to try and guess the right tune!

Now, how about we club singing games and dancing to make it more fun for the kids?

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The dynamic game makes learning an exciting musical adventure. It’s an excellent approach to blend music and literacy abilities, making it ideal for young children.

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This engaging game can spark the preschoolers’ love for learning and leave them singing their ABCs in no time.

The interesting game tests your child’s musical knowledge and memory interactively.

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Recordings of different songs

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Melody Match is a fantastic way to ignite your child’s love for music, test their knowledge, and create lasting memories filled with laughter and songs.

The outdoor activity can turn your backyard or park into a blend of sounds, helping children practice listening skills and enjoy nature.

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This engaging game helps children identify specific sounds and hone their listening skills and ability to distinguish different auditory cues.

Get ready for bouncing balloons with this energetic game that combines music, movement, and the hilarious challenge of keeping balloons afloat.

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This game helps children develop valuable skills such as gross motor skills and strategic thinking.

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The game provides a fun and engaging way for children to explore the world of music while enhancing their cognitive and social development.

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Children can experiment with different sounds and rhythms to develop their auditory perception and musical expression.

Children can take part in a thrilling quest to uncover hidden objects scattered throughout the house or play area, transforming the typical scavenger hunt into an immersive auditory experience.

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The interactive game not only sharpens their listening skills but also fosters the ability to associate sounds with corresponding objects.

Guess the instrument is an engaging game that stimulates children’s creativity and musical expression.

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The game encourages imagination and a deeper appreciation for the art of music.

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Want to get your child moving and grooving to some beats? Try out these interactive games that combine physical activity with musical enjoyment.

A simple and silly music game for all ages, dance with props allows you to get creative too.

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This way, they can dance for as long as they want!

A tissue dance is more like a balancing act and less of a dance form. But, it is fun!

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A game for one or more people, musical statues can be enjoyed by kids of all ages.

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The last person dancing on at the end is the champion statue!

Mrs Martin, a blogger and an elementary school music teacher, explains how she taught music lessons to students in third and fifth grades. She says, “I developed this statue game within the constraints of mask-wearing, singing not allowed in person, no shared materials, and social distancing. For this game, I used the song “I Lost the Farmer’s Dairy Key” from 150 American Folk Songs edited by Peter Erdei. I made the connection between the song and the game by saying that the students are statues in the “lady’s garden” from the song. I made it exciting by telling them it was a magic garden where one of the statues would change positions when the farmer wasn’t looking. I use this song to teach anacrusis/pickup. They need LOTS of repetitions of the song to internalize the beat structure. So…we turn it into a game (i)!”

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This is an excellent way to introduce the kids to different genres of music and the many emotions linked to them. This will help children connect actions with emotions.

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In short, whatever is the mood of the song, the kids have to act it when they dance.

That’s right. This game will make the kids dance like an animal, literally! Read on to know how.

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Watch the fun!

The game is highly popular at teen parties and is usually for couples. But, it can be modified a bit to suit children of all ages.

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After every few minutes, the kids have to fold the paper in half and dance on it. The smaller the paper gets, the difficult it would be for the kids to stay on it. The child who manages to dance only on the last folded piece of paper wins!

This is a group dance competition for kids of all ages. All you need to do is give them some props and accessories, ask them to pick a song of their choice, and prepare a dance routine.

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Limbo is a game that tests how flexible the body is. Add music, and it becomes all the more fun. In musical limbo, you don’t just walk under the beam. You have to go dancing from under it!

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As the game’s name suggests, this activity encourages children to use their imagination and have fun while honing their drawing skills.

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The vibrant activity goes beyond dancing – it’s about appreciating the creativity and teamwork behind creating a captivating dance routine.

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A music player Plenty of space Optional: Props or costumes to enhance the experience

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The game encourages children to value the effort involved in figuring out the moves, creating routines, and practicing. It also promotes teamwork and enhances communication skills.

In this game, children mimic the movements of a leader to music. It is known for promoting coordination, observation skills, and creativity.

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It is a fun musical activity that makes children come out of their comfort zone and get along with each other.

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The combination of hopscotch and dance is a fun game for children as they dance while balancing their way through the grid.

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It is a lively game that combines the fun of charades with a musical twist. It’s a great way to engage children in a guessing game while allowing them to express themselves through dance and movement.

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The team with the maximum number of correct answers wins.

Mirror Moves is an energetic and fun-filled game where children mimic each other’s dance moves.

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After a few minutes, switch roles so everyone gets a chance to be both a leader and a mirror.

Dance Relay is a lively and interactive game where children combine the excitement of a relay race with the fun of dancing.

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It is an exciting game where children dance to music and move to different corners when the music stops. It promotes quick thinking and physical activity.

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This is a dynamic game where children dance and form different shapes with their bodies when the music stops. It also helps children understand geometric shapes and spatial relationships.

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Musical Hula Hoops is an energetic game where children dance to music and hop into hula hoops when the music stops, similar to musical chairs but with a twist.

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It is a lively game where children follow musical instructions, combining the classic Simon Says with music.

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The game combines music with an obstacle course, challenging children to navigate through various physical activities to the beat.

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1. What age group is suitable for music games for children?

A musical or sound-producing toy is one of the first toys given to infants. So, playing music games is not fully restricted by age. If a child knows how to identify and differentiate between sounds, they are suitable to play music games.

2. Can music games for children be played on mobile devices?

Yes, both android and iPhone have music game options in their respective app stores.

3. Can music games improve a child’s creativity and imagination?

Yes, music games can positively impact a child’s creativity and imagination. By engaging in activities such as singing, playing instruments, and composing music, children are encouraged to think creatively, express themselves artistically, and explore their imagination through the world of music (2).

4. What are the key features to consider when choosing music games for kids?

When deciding on music games for children, ensure the games are suitable for the child’s age, offer interactive and captivating gameplay, incorporate educational elements, and provide a diverse range of musical activities.

5. How can music games encourage social interaction among children?

Music games can promote social interaction among children by creating opportunities for collaboration and teamwork. Engaging in group music-making activities encourages communication, coordination, and cooperation. Children learn to listen to and appreciate each other’s contributions, take turns, and work together.

6. How can parents actively participate in music games with their children?

Parents can engage in music games with their children by playing instruments together, singing along with them, and participating in rhythmic movements or dancing. They can offer encouragement, initiate conversations about the music, and create an atmosphere of shared enjoyment.

Music adds a spark to life and has therapeutic effects that heal the body and mind. From making your music to antakshari and karaoke, these musical games for kids are a great way to let your child hop, twist, and shake to the music and enjoy. You can select a suitable musical game based on your child’s age and interests. Use these games to introduce your little one to different genres of music and diversify their understanding. Club the music they love with usual games, such as hopscotch, or add music to daily chores to make them enjoyable. For those inclined, they can learn musical theory that can help them understand the rhythm and timings while playing the musical instruments. Children are able to retain musical memory and creativity through these games and it forms an important part of early childhood development. They can also learn through these play activities that offer a fun learning experience.

If your child loves and appreciates music, they’ll surely enjoy playing musical games. We bring you a list of some amazing games that can keep them hooked. They can be played in a play school setting or when your little one’s friends come over for a play date. Keep this infographic handy, so you can use it at the right time.

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This musical card game is perfect for kids to practice their English skills. Enjoy the fun of flashcards with a musical twist!

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