Easy Rhythm Sticks Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Last Updated on July 10, 2024 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: Looking for easy rhythm sticks activities? This collection is a fun way to add music to your toddler and preschool day!

Children love percussion instruments, so the first ones we use are rhythm sticks. They are easy to hold and simple to use. And there are so many benefits! So now you are looking for easy ways to use rhythm sticks in the classroom.

I’ve got you covered!

Over the years of using rhythm sticks in our toddler and preschool classrooms, I’ve found that simple is best. The children are working hard to listen to the beat and/or words and also following my lead. I wanted activities that involved changing tempo and direction, but not too quickly.

Rhythm sticks are also a great way to help active children slow down and focus. (This is probably my #1 reason for loving them!)

Easy Rhythm Sticks Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Rhythm sticks are a good instrument to start with because they are so versatile. Part of the percussion family, these sticks are tapped together to make sounds.

Using rhythm sticks helps develop:

Fine motor development and hand-eye coordination
Language development and listening skills
Rhythm, beat, and tempo
Creative thinking and problem solving
Early brain development
Directionality (up, down, forwards, backwards, etc.)

What Type of Rhythm Sticks?

For toddlers I like to use shorter, chunkier sticks, also known as lummi sticks. These are shorter and thicker than regular rhythm sticks, making them easier for smaller hands to hold and move.

For preschoolers, I move to the traditional 10″ or 12″ rhythm sticks. I love the type that come in a set of ribbed and smooth, but both sticks being smooth work, too.

OR, for a fun activity, you can have the children make their own miniature rhythm sticks.

Getting Started

Start with the basics: Show your children how to use rhythm sticks with these basic motions that start with one hand and then two. (Source: Learn, Play, Imagine)

I have our toddlers sitting on our oval rug and our preschoolers sitting on their stools, as they do during circle time.

As I pass out each set of rhythm sticks, I have the children place them on the floor in front of them.

I first demonstrate how to use the sticks, making sure they understand not to hit another child with them. (This is an excellent lesson in spatial awareness.) When I pick up my sticks, they pick up theirs and we place them in our laps. We don’t start using them until the music starts, and we follow along to the beat and words (if applicable).

Rhythm Sticks Activities

Here are some easy and fun ideas you can try!

The Umbrella Song: You can use rhythm sticks to tap while singing this rainy day song. (Let’s Play Kids Music)
Tap Tap Your Rhythm Sticks: Tap them so soft, tap them so loud. (Songs for Teaching)
Red Red Robin Sticks Dance: A good song to practice listening and then doing. (Macaroni Soup)
Extra Beat, Take a Seat: This is a great way to work on counting skills while listening and repeating the pattern. (Becca’s Music Room)
Jean Warren shares 7 songs that work well with rhythm sticks. You can find them all in this collection.

Rhythm Stick Articles

How to Use Rhythm Sticks During Lap Time and Story Time (Laptime and Storytime)

Rhythm Stick Videos

In 2024 I found a couple of videos that my 2 and 3 year olds loved!

Rhythm Sticks Music

More Music Activities:

Fun Music for Energetic Kids

25+ Music and Movement Activities

FREE Music Notebook Cover

In this video I share how I keep a music notebook in my circle time basket as a reference. Here’s a cute printable that you can download and put in the cover sleeve of your music notebook!

Click on the photo below for the pdf download: