Making musical shakers with little ones is such an easy activity with lots of play and learning potential. We have made many of these throughout the years, since Z was a baby but this week R and I made some musical shakers using pasta as the filler. My focus with these toddler games with musical shakers was speech and language, although picking up the pasta pieces one by one and filling up the bottle is also great for developing fine motor skills and precision.
 To make a basic musical shaker at home you will need a choice of container such as:
- Empty water, or other plastic drinks bottle – any size will do
- Empty coffee tin
- Cardboard tube (see this post from Kidspot on how to make a shaker with a cardboard tube)
- Any small boxes with lids
- A plastic egg that splits into two
You will also need a choice of fillings such as:
- Dry uncooked pasta
- Lentils
- Uncooked Chick Peas
- Uncooked Rice
- Uncooked dry beans
- Small pebbles
- Beads (large ones if you are worried your child will put them in their mouth)
- Marbles
- Glitter or sequins
The list of fillings could be really endless, you can try whatever you think would be good – and mix and match fillings within your musical shaker or stick to just one. You could make different musical shakers and compare their sounds. Of course, you will need to fix the lid on tightly once your toddler’s musical shaker has been filled.
I gave Mr R pasta for his shaker, because the pieces are large enough for him to easily pick up by himself and place into the container. If you are using smaller items, like grains of rice or lentils you can set up the area with a funnel to pour the filling in to make the musical shaker.
While filling the bottle, you can use this as an opportunity to reinforce turn taking. We do this by saying out loud “Mr R’s turn” & “Mum’s turn”. If your child is quite young and still developing very basic language it’s also a good opportunity to teach language like “more” while they add more filling to the shaker.
Once the shaker is made, you can have lots of noisy fun with it! (The tongue is Mr R’s concentrating face! 😀 )
We use the shakers to practise listening, by having Mr R listen out for “Ready, Steady…GO” and then listening and responding to “stop” too. Â You can make this into a game, and sometimes use different words like “ready…steady…bananas!” to check if the child is listening.
We use the shakers to practise shaking fast, slow, noisy, and quietly. Â You can also use this to practise position words: shake high, shake low.
A fun song that you can use for shaking fast and slow is Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Lights.
Twinkle twinkle traffic light
On the corner shining bright(shaking normally for these two lines)
Red means stop (stop shaking), Green means GO! (shake fast)
Yellow means go but very slow (slow shaking)
Twinkle twinkle traffic lightÂ
On the corner shining bright. (shaking normal or fast for these last two lines)
You can also use shakers to make noise while you dance around or listen to any music that your child likes, using simple language to comment on what is happening.
For more ideas have a look at these articles about making music with toddlers:
Making a drum with your toddler
Egg Shaker Activities (these are a little more advanced)
Using Musical Instruments in Creative Play
You may also be interested in:
Helping your child’s speech and language development
For more simple speech and language ideas, follow our Pinterest board
Follow Anna – In The Playroom’s board Speech and language on Pinterest.
And don’t forget to pin this post for later
image credit: colorful maracas for sale Shutterstock
March 20, 2014 @ 9:35 am
Great fun! We loved making these when the children were younger, there are so many possibilities!
TwinsplusTwo recently posted…When is assault “Assault”?
March 20, 2014 @ 10:05 am
Such a great and creative way to have fun while learning!
Sylvia @ Happiness is homemade recently posted…Avocado & goat cheese sandwich / Kanapka z awokado i kozim serem.
March 20, 2014 @ 10:57 am
What a great fun idea, and making it wit different things inside and comparing the sounds s a great way to get talking about things, Thanks
Tina Mansfield recently posted…Triple M Rose food
March 20, 2014 @ 10:59 am
thats a very nice idea, i think i dont really have a good imagination, so will remember this one for the future
Victoria recently posted…Mother & daughter relationship
March 20, 2014 @ 11:14 am
This is a really lovely activity Anna. We often make shakers at toddlers and it’s always a hugely popular activity. I love Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light, I’m borrowing that one!
Pippa Ainsworth recently posted…Find the Perfect Mother’s Day Gift
March 20, 2014 @ 11:32 am
What a lovely activity Anna, great photos too xx
March 20, 2014 @ 12:18 pm
What a fun activity! When my son was little I remember making a rainmaker with him using a tube and rice. Love that you have used different containers and sound makers too.
Michelle recently posted…[#PanasonicBritBloggers] Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 [Preview]
March 20, 2014 @ 1:06 pm
Very good post, do love doing stuff like this especially with Millie .x
March 20, 2014 @ 1:20 pm
I love the idea of turning this into an activity – I’d have never thought of doing that, I would have just made the shakers up myself!
March 20, 2014 @ 1:40 pm
Looks like he is having a lot of fun playing with his homemade shaker. What a great idea!!
Terry recently posted…RIDSET The Full Body Detox Cleanse That I Will Be Using ~ Parasite Cleanse ~ Organ Detox ~ Weight Loss
March 20, 2014 @ 1:48 pm
Loving the level of concentration on your little man’s face! Shakers are always an instant hit with kids and so easy to make!
suzanne3childrenandit recently posted…The Hills are Alive / Loud ‘n’ Proud
March 20, 2014 @ 1:55 pm
we love that and we had made over 10. now we use it as bowling pin instead.
Eileen Teo recently posted…Chinese Wedding Gifts
March 20, 2014 @ 2:59 pm
I keeo meaning to do an activity like this with the twins. They’d love counting the pieces in and love making noise 🙂 x
Kirsty – Hijacked by Twins recently posted…Chocolate Orange Bread and Butter Pudding
March 20, 2014 @ 5:16 pm
we have all loved to make these years ago and theres soo many options to put in them great post hun and fab pics x
March 20, 2014 @ 5:33 pm
Home made musical instruments were always a huge hit in our house
Jen aka The Mad House recently posted…Homemade Kid friendly mothers day gifts and cards – Something for the weekend
March 20, 2014 @ 7:16 pm
What a great fun idea. I bet different fillings make different sounds, are they?
agatapokutycka recently posted…Review – Ozeri CardioTech Pro Series Digital Blood Pressure Monitor
March 20, 2014 @ 7:53 pm
We made some of these recently that I meant to blog, filled them with feathers and things and the baby loved trying to crawl after them 😀
Kate Williams recently posted…Dulux Bedroom in a Box
March 20, 2014 @ 7:59 pm
I have been making some of these for F at the moment that I will be blogging about soon! I love the simple ideas, they have so much fun with them don’t they.
Mummy of Two recently posted…New toys from Bandai for Little Mr A
March 20, 2014 @ 8:11 pm
This looks so easy and so fun and yet something I have never done! I will have to give it a go! x
Donna recently posted…Review: Squashies Love Hearts Sweets & 60th Anniversary Competition!
March 20, 2014 @ 8:24 pm
Great idea. I think I will make one of these for Baby tomorrow x
You Baby Me Mummy recently posted…What Matters Most
March 20, 2014 @ 9:27 pm
Such a simple but lovely idea. Love that rhyme too, not heard that before so will remember and sing it to my son. I think we will make one of these shakers too. Thank you
Sam @happyhomebird recently posted…Pull a weed, lose a worry
March 20, 2014 @ 10:23 pm
What a really wonderful, simple and enjoyable way to spend time with a young toddler or a child of any age. I love the focus on using the activity as an opportunity for talk and learning. Have pinned for later x
Kirsty recently posted…The Very Hungry Caterpillar Finger Puppets
March 21, 2014 @ 1:03 am
Now that looks like he is having fun! x
Sarah Bailey recently posted…Sabichi Pug Range: Review
March 21, 2014 @ 6:55 am
I love making these – we tend to use rice in ours
kara recently posted…Let’s Talk About Number 2′s
March 21, 2014 @ 8:11 pm
Love it! And Mr R is so adorable 🙂
Helen recently posted…16 Outdoor Activities With a Toddler (When You Don’t Own a Garden)
March 22, 2014 @ 4:32 pm
so simple but so fun! x
Fritha Strickland recently posted…our weekend in pictures
March 23, 2014 @ 7:41 am
Oooh how fantastic .. I love the new version of twinkle twinkle
Ninjacat recently posted…Getting A Child To Write A Pleasure Not a Chore
March 23, 2014 @ 3:06 pm
Great post, and really simple to do too 🙂
March 23, 2014 @ 7:28 pm
We used to make these and even have one somewhere that’s two Muller light tubs sellotaped together with some pasta in it 😉
March 24, 2014 @ 6:44 pm
I love this idea! My toddler (21m) is into EVERYTHING — I think I’ll try filling the shaker with her.
Thanks for including songs, too! I need to expand my selection!
Great to see you linking up to The Thoughtful Spot!
Dianna @ The Kennedy Adventures recently posted…The Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop – Week #29
March 25, 2014 @ 6:32 pm
Interesting! Simple play that inspires him to learn =)
PinItParty
Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk) recently posted…Muddy Cupcakes
March 25, 2014 @ 7:27 pm
Lucas says – Love this – it makes noise!!!!
Grace says – these are such a good idea – great job lil’ dude
Thanks for linking to #minicreations
KidGLloves recently posted…Dogged Determination: Cuddles
March 25, 2014 @ 9:17 pm
Fantastic fun! Thanks for shaing at #Pintorials 🙂
Gude @HodgePodgeCraft recently posted…DIY Mothers Day Gifts (Tuesday Tutorials)
March 31, 2014 @ 1:09 am
This is a great idea! I know it would be fun to make noise with these!
Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!
Jill recently posted…E.H.M. Monthly Meal Planner – April 2014
April 16, 2014 @ 6:57 pm
Great post. Making shakers is so easy but provide so much entertainment and costs pennies. My kids love them
April 18, 2014 @ 7:52 pm
Some great ideas for games to play with the shakers. Should really make some for N then we can practice along to music as well as doing stop/go type activities.
Thanks for linking up to #MusicalExplorers linky
Emma T recently posted…Following the Gruffalo trail at Salcey Forest
April 20, 2014 @ 7:31 pm
Love these ideas and so simple, looking forward to making shakers for my son when he’s a bit older. Tried it with a yoghurt pot and some rice a few weeks back when I was cooking – wasn’t really into it yet 🙂 xx #MusicalExplorers
Saskia recently posted…Diary of a Baby Led Weaner: Baby Led Weaning Day 3 & 4
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