24/11/2025
We love, and I mean LOVE maracas in our Little Senses classes. They are most definitely one of the babies favourite props and we use them regularly, either on their own or alongside other forms of sensory play too.
Here’s why we love them so much:
1) The long handle is the perfect size for little hands to wrap their fingers around, improving fine motor skills.
2) Babies learn to distinguish between different sounds and pitches, which can improve their listening & auditory processing skills. We have quieter baby maracas and louder grown up maracas to help babies with this.
3) Babies will learn about rhythm, melody, beat, and pitch. Auditory perception is an important pre-reading skill that is encouraged through music.
4) Gross motor skills improve as babies muscle strength develops. A maraca encourages babies to reach forward to take their maraca out the box, shake it and maybe even wiggle and dance too.
5) When we shake our grown up maracas and slowly move it side to side, it encourages babies to visually track the sound. They will follow the sound with their eyes initially, and their whole head from around 4-6 months (once head control is stronger).
6) Bilateral Integration is the ability to co ordinate both sides of the body at the same time. It means crossing the body midline so both sides of the brain are working well together to share information. Holding a maraca in each hand is great for supporting this skill.
7) Music ignites all areas of child development and skills, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills.
Does your baby LOVE a maraca?
If you’d like to know more about how our classes can benefit your baby, drop us a DM and I’ll send you some information.
The Sensory Network classes run from birth - 4 years on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
