The xylophone is one of our favourite toys, and one of yours as well, having always been one of our best-sellers since it was launched in 2019.
Using the stick to strike the keys, kids may make an absolute racket, but they are also practising lots of important skills that form the foundations of their learning later in life.
Most apparent are the motor skills it develops. Holding the stick in their hand is great grasping practice and, each time they strike the xylophone, their grip is tested and strengthened. In addition to these fine-motor skills, they are also developing some gross-motor skills as they coordinate the movement of their arm.
If that wasn’t enough, they’re also developing their hand-eye coordination as they aim for the keys (or whatever else they are trying to hit!)
But the xylophone doesn’t just provide a motor skills playground/classroom. Children also learn about cause and effect, learning and delighting in the fact that they are responsible for the sounds created by striking the keys.
As they develop further, children may begin to notice the different notes produced by the keys, learning to associate different sounds with different concepts (in this case coloured keys) which is the fundamental basis of language.
So if you ever get frustrated with the banging… just remember that it’s all in pursuit of much bigger things!
Please note: this is a striking toy and not a musical instrument, notes may vary!
made from: rubber wood
suitable from: 18 months
dimensions: 20 x 15 cm (5 x 3 holes)
