Handmade Instruments for Preschoolers | Instruments You Can Make Together with Your Child
When children make their own instruments to play rhythm games or perform to music, it fosters their sense of rhythm and pitch, as well as their imagination and expressive abilities, bringing very positive effects to their development.
So this time, we’re introducing handmade instrument ideas you can use in daycare, kindergarten, or at home.
From simple projects you can make with recycled materials or items from the dollar store to more advanced creations based on the principles of real instruments, we’ve gathered a wide range of DIY instrument ideas!
Find projects that match your child’s age and developmental stage, and try making them together.
We hope you’ll enjoy a fun time exploring the unique sounds that these handmade instruments can produce!
- [Childcare] Enjoy handmade tambourines with the children
- Handmade instruments with plastic bottles: try making flutes, percussion, and traditional ethnic instruments.
- [Childcare] Easy to make! Handmade toys that delight 0-year-olds
- Craft activity ideas that parents and children can enjoy together during a preschool observation day
- Paper cup crafts that elementary school kids will love! A collection of fun project ideas
- [Nursery/Kindergarten] Crafts you can play with after making them
- Craft ideas using plastic bottle caps [for boys]
- Make it with everyday materials! A collection of DIY toy ideas recommended for 1-year-olds
- Recommended songs for eurhythmics. Let's enjoy music using our bodies!
- Recommended for 5-year-olds! Simple DIY toy ideas
- By Age: Enjoy Music with Instrument Play! Plus DIY Instrument Ideas
- [Childcare] Recommended for toddlers! Toy ideas you can make and play with
- [Childcare] Fun Rhythm Play! Recommended Games and Hand-Clapping/Hand-Play for Kids
Handmade Instruments for Preschoolers | Instruments You Can Make Together as a Parent and Child (21–30)
Decorating tambourines is fun
Here are some fun ideas for decorating tambourines.
You’ll need two paper plates, straws, scissors, tape, a pen, and masking tape.
Put the cut pieces of straw between the paper plates, press them together, and seal the edges with tape and masking tape—that’s it! Use pens in your favorite colors to draw expressions on the tambourine.
It’s also fun to give the front and back different expressions, like a smiling face on one side and a sleeping face on the other.
The simple method makes it easy for kids to follow, which is part of its charm!
A guitar that changes its sound
This is a handmade guitar toy you can play by plucking rubber band strings, where the sound changes.
First, make the guitar neck using a kitchen paper tube.
Cut slits in the tube and attach rubber bands, then hook the bendable part of a straw onto the strings.
Next, attach the rim of a paper cup between the straws, and press down on the rim’s surface to lower its position.
Apply glue to the bottom of the paper cup and attach it to the tube, then stick a paper plate on the opposite side to finish! Try making this fun toy where the sound changes depending on where you press the strings.
Playable maracas
Taught by a professional percussionist! Here are ideas for making maracas from scrap materials.
Do you know the term “scrap materials”? It refers to materials or items that would otherwise be thrown away.
Common household scraps include toilet paper rolls and plastic bottles.
This time, let’s make maracas using scrap materials! What you’ll need: empty capsule toy containers, toilet paper rolls, beads, stickers, washi tape, and regular tape.
Give it a try!
Gum-Gum Tambourine
Let’s customize a tambourine! Here are some ideas for a “Gomu-Gomu Tambourine” (a rubber-band tambourine).
You’ll need craft beads, twist rubber bands, scissors, an awl, and a 6-inch wooden tambourine.
A tambourine is typically played by hitting or shaking it to make sounds, but with a few custom touches, it can become even more fun for everyone—from kids to adults.
Don’t you wonder what kind of sound it will make when you play it with colorful beads and stretchy rubber bands? Give it a try and make your own!
straw tambourine
You can make one even without bells or cymbals! Here’s an idea for a tambourine made with straws.
What you’ll need: two paper plates, straws, scissors, tape, washi tape, pens, and illustrations.
How about making a tambourine with paper plates and straws and giving it a try? Since you can draw your favorite designs on the paper plates, it’s great to use pens to freely draw and customize it.
Cutting out and pasting illustrations is wonderful too! Give it a try!
Tambourine made from scrap materials
Shake it! Tap it! Enjoy the sounds! Here’s a tambourine idea made from recycled materials.
You’ll need a flat round box, six jingle bells, chenille stems (pipe cleaners), and a tool for making holes such as an awl.
First, make holes at six evenly spaced points around the round box.
Next, cut the pipe cleaners into six pieces, thread a bell onto each one, and attach them through the holes in the box—and you’re done.
Since there’s a risk of injury when making holes or handling the pipe cleaners, be sure to work together with a parent or teacher.
Paper Plate Deco Tambourine
Let’s make your very own special instrument! Here’s an idea for a paper-plate decorated tambourine.
What you’ll need: paper plates, jingle bells, double-sided tape, glue, origami paper in your favorite colors or patterns, and round stickers.
First, fold a paper plate in half and place the bells inside.
Attach double-sided tape along the rim and seal the plate closed.
Finally, decorate freely with origami paper and round stickers, and you’re done! It’s a fun idea that’s safe and easy to make without any tools.
Encourage kids to create freely with their own ideas!