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PARKERSBURG - Helping children develop through play and music was the focus of "Recreational Drumming: Celebrating Health and Wellness, Early Childhood Movement and Music" at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

Kim Hunt, a music teacher in Wood County Schools, said she applied for a grant for the Percussive Arts Society to have the program in Parkersburg.

"This is a national program," she said. "This is to promote health and wellness in children from 18 months to 4 years through drumming."

Hunt said the idea is to have something for children to do in the winter months to keep them active and away from inactive things such as playing too many video games or watching too much television. It does not take the purchase of expensive toys for the children, she said.

"They don't have to go out and buy things for this," she said. "They can use their imagination and make their instruments from household items, like pie pans, coffee cans, paper towel tubes taped and filled with dried beans or rice and many other items."

The program was announced through the West Virginia Birth to Three, the Children's Home Society and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services, Hunt said.

Thursday's program included three activities to introduce children and their parents to get the children up and moving as they beat on a drum or homemade items. In the second activity they learned about making shakers from plastic Easter eggs or from containers with plastic lids. Sharing and learning together was the third activity.

There was a time for children to just pay with what they wanted and to help in making their new instruments.

Hunt said the activity helps children with their fine and gross motor skills and has other benefits.

"This will also help with building self-esteem, self-awareness and cooperative learning and good bonding time with family," she said. "

Hunt said another reason she applied for the grant was to focus on providing a free service for the community.

"There are so few services and activities for this age group in this area," she said.

From Nov. 11-15, Hunt, along with her sons Travis and Jacob and David Titchnell, all who are percussionists at Parkersburg South High School, will go to the Percussive Arts Society International Conference in Indianapolis, Ind.

"We're going there to present what we've done here and we will be recognized for service to the community," she said.