Simple musical shakers for kids

Handmade instruments can be lots of fun to make and these simple musical shakers for kids are no exception. You only need a few materials to make them and they’ll keep your kids occupied as they decorate and play with them. It has been very hot and so we have been looking for some simple ways to entertain ourselves indoors. These simple musical shakers turned out to be the perfect little project for Possum (aged 4 years) to make and play with afterwards.

Recommended age: 3 years + (Active supervision is always required)

To make these simple musical shakers for kids, you will need –

Cardboard tube
Washi tape or cable tape
Masking tape (optional)
Rice

Begin by covering up one end of your cardboard tube with masking tape or washi tape. I personally, however, felt that the masking tape held in place and secured the end better. Now your child can start decorating the cardboard tube with all the tape you have available. As you can imagine, when children play and use tape they are giving their fine motor skills a really great work out and strengthening those small muscles in the hand. This of course helps them to write, tie their shoelace etc. Once the decorating side of things is done, your child can fill their cardboard tube with rice (or similar). I had a funnel on hand, but you and your child can problem solve a way of getting the rice into the tube. It’s important to only fill the cardboard tube no more than half way. If it is too full then the rice doesn’t move as much inside the tube and you don’t get a clear sound. Once you have your rice in your tube you can seal the other end using masking tape. Your child might like to decorate over the masking tape if they wanted to. And then it’s shaking time! If your child has the confidence they can put on a little concert or have a go at playing to a familiar tune. You can also ask your child to play in a way you describe, so shake ‘fast’ or ‘slow’, shake ‘up high’ or ‘down low’. These are all great and fun ways to develop your child’s language vocabulary.