Parenting: From newborns to toddlers, it's never too early to make some sort of racket

When children are under school age, finding a good balance between practical matters and the more creative aspects of parenthood can be particularly hard. There's only so much mopping you can convince a two-year-old is "great fun" – although thankfully hoovering is still a novelty for Mummy's Little Treasure, which would be great if he would actually do the floor. I can't say how many precious items have flashed in front of my eyes as they shot up the nozzle of doom.

I think I've also worked out the mystery of the odd socks.

The only way to keep my sanity, what's left of it, is to get out and join an organised class or activity where the onus is on someone else to educate and entertain. And this is how we found ourselves at Monkey Music, an interactive music curriculum set up in 1993 by Angie Davies, a classical musician and teacher who discovered a lack of such classes for her own newborn daughter.

The Edinburgh branch is run by Rachel Huggins, an energetic mum with a good singing voice and plenty of patience, and classes are divided into four age groups. Working on the premise that we are born with a sense of rhythm, Rock'n'Roll is for babies from three months old; Heigh Ho is suitable from 12 months, Jiggety Jig from two years and Ding Dong from three years.

Since MLT is two and a half, we joined one of the Jiggety Jig classes, which are designed to build on skills learned in earlier stages of the curriculum and use topical action songs to reinforce a theme and teach children how to use percussion instruments as accompaniment. Part of each session also focuses on movement with hoops and other props on hand to encourage agility and expression.

Apparently, by this stage children are developing a musical memory and are learning how to "compose" their own music. Unfortunately MLT spent three-quarters of our session hanging round my neck and avoiding eye-contact with anyone, but the other toddlers who had been before were happily marching, dancing and singing along. MLT finally came to life in the closing stages, providing enthusiastic accompaniment on the castanets, maracas and bells, and particularly the drum. Something tells me a mother's work really will never be done.

Prices start at 65 per term, which includes a welcome pack with CD and Monkey T-shirt, and sessions are held at various venues around Edinburgh. Contact Rachel Huggins (0131-260 9667) or Alison Rankin (0131-669 6004), at Monkey Music (www.monkeymusic.co.uk)

• This article was first published in the Scotsman, March 6, 2010