By Age: Enjoy Music with Instrument Play! Plus DIY Instrument Ideas
Playing with instruments nurtures children’s ability to enjoy sound and to listen closely.
Above all, the experience of making music together will become a rich treasure for children.
This time, we’ll introduce instrument play activities by target age.
Choose ideas that fit your class and the children’s needs.
We also introduce several handmade instruments.
When children use instruments they’ve made themselves, they feel more attached to them and become more engaged in the activities.
Enjoy wonderful moments through instrument play.
- [Childcare] Enjoy handmade tambourines with the children
- For 2-year-olds! Fun craft activities and indoor play ideas
- [Childcare] Fun Rhythm Play! Recommended Games and Hand-Clapping/Hand-Play for Kids
- Handmade Instruments for Preschoolers | Instruments You Can Make Together with Your Child
- Toddler-approved fun! DIY toy ideas for 2-year-olds
- [For 0-year-olds] Fun indoor play ideas using raffia tape (suzuran tape)
- Let’s make it with 3-year-olds! Fun handmade toy ideas
- Age 4: Simple and Fun! Handmade Toy Ideas
- For 1-year-olds! Indoor play ideas that make rainy days fun
- Useful for childcare! Today’s recommended recreational activities, including fingerplay and games!
- [For 5-Year-Olds] Recommended Indoor Play! A Collection of Exciting Games
- [Childcare] Recommended for 3-year-olds! Play ideas everyone can enjoy
- Cardboard Play Ideas by Age Group to Enhance Childcare
By Age Group! Enjoy Music with Instrument Play! Handmade Instrument Ideas Included (31–40)
Tambourine of Box and Bell
Let me introduce an idea for a tambourine made with a box and bells.
You’ll need a round box, masking tape, wire, an awl, decorative origami paper, double-sided tape, and scissors.
Using sparkly origami or decorating with cutouts of your favorite motifs will really lift the mood! Divide up the tasks with the kids and make the tambourine together.
It’s safest for a parent or teacher to handle the step of punching holes in the container with the awl.
Enjoy making music with your very own original tambourine!
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!
Tambourine you can make with things at home
Here’s an idea for making a tambourine using items you have at home.
You’ll need a round container from a six-piece cheese pack, jingle bells, string, animal-themed templates, colored construction paper, origami paper, scissors, and glue or double-sided tape.
Even if children don’t recognize it as a musical instrument, this works as a special sound-making toy that infants can enjoy.
The cute animal motifs will spark children’s interest and curiosity.
Let’s make sounds freely and have fun playing along with music and rhythm!
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.
balloon tambourine
You can adapt a balloon drum into a tambourine! What you need: a roll core from packing tape, a balloon, scissors, vinyl tape, masking tape, tissue paper, one disposable chopstick, and two plastic bottle caps.
The balloon drum shown in the video is really appealing, isn’t it? Making instruments from materials familiar to children will likely make them feel more attached to them.
If you attach bells around the balloon drum, you can probably turn it into a tambourine, too.
Give it a try!