Make a musical sensory shaker
Make your own musical sensory shaker using common household items, an easy DIY project for kids who like to make some noise!
- Cardboard tubes
- Sticky tape
- Dry rice
- Coloured pens or pencils
Who is this activity for?
Evie and Dodge are making a sensory shaker from items that can be found around the house. If your child is curious about music or enjoys noisy fun sessions, try this make and see where the rhythm takes you! Shake, shake, shake!
Crafting and sensory play is a great way for your child to develop their fine motor skills, language and imagination. New noises and textures can enhance a child's development. For more information, learn about the benefits of sensory play and discover more simple activity ideas from CBeebies Parenting.
How to make a sensory shaker
Once you have all the materials from above, let's begin! Don’t forget to ask a grown-up to help with the sticky tape.
First, decorate your cardboard tube using pens or pencils.
Ask your grown-up to help you tape the end of one side of the tube together, with no gaps.
Once the ends are secure, carefully put three spoonfuls of dry rice into your cardboard tube.
Keep the tube upright so no rice spills, then tape the opposite end of the tube together.
Only once both ends are taped up, shake your shaker!
Can you hear the rice shaking around inside?Shake, shake, shake!
Do you have younger children?
If your child is a little bit too young to help you with this make, or if you'd like a simpler project, check out this easy rice rattle make from CBeebies Parenting.
Rattles help develop your baby's listening skills and their rhythm, and the falling noise of the rice inside the bottle can help improve their awareness through sensory play. Try shaking the rattle along with a nursery rhyme or as you speak to them.
More arts and crafts activities from CBeebies House
Fan-tastic creativity: Learn how to make a watermelon fan with Evie and Dodge.
Is your child a dinosaur expert? Discover how to make pretend fossils with Rebecca.
Turn your toy into Waffle: Give your own toy a Waffle the Wonder Dog make-over.
Make some noise!
Why not not use your shakers to put on a show with your child?
You could form a band like Andy or Yolanda and rock out!
Sing along with your favourite CBeebies characters and shake in time to the CBeebies Musical: The Great Ice Cream Hunt.
Or why not watch along with the CBeebies Prom while you recreate the percussion section?
