TinyStepper

Musical Shaker Craft

At a glance: Make simple shakers from bottles and dried rice or pasta, then shake along while singing favourite songs together. A 15-minute, medium-energy indoor activity for ages 18m–3y.

Built by a parent of toddlersBest for 18m-3y

Field-tested ideas shaped by direct parenting experience and advice from reputable sources, including NHS Best Start in Life and NSPCC child development research.

18m–3y15 minsmedium energyindoorsome mess

Half craft project, half music session. Your toddler fills plastic bottles with rice or pasta — practising their pouring and pincer grip — then uses their homemade instruments to accompany familiar songs. The magic is in the ownership: shaking an instrument they built themselves makes the singing feel like a proper performance. Different fillings make different sounds, so they are also exploring cause and effect with every shake.

Best for this moment

when your toddler needs focused engagement, especially when you need an indoor option.

Parent tip

Set out plastic bottles and rice or pasta before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

What success looks like

A good outcome is a few minutes of engaged play, some back-and-forth with you, and a small sign of progress in creativity.

More help for this situation

Instructions

Get ready
  • Gather 2-3 clean, empty plastic bottles and a bowl of dried rice or pasta.
  • Show your toddler how to scoop rice with a spoon and pour it into a bottle.
  1. Gather 2-3 clean, empty plastic bottles and a bowl of dried rice or pasta.
  2. Show your toddler how to scoop rice with a spoon and pour it into a bottle.
  3. Let them fill each bottle — about a quarter full gives the best sound.
  4. Seal the lids tightly (this is your job — check they are secure).
  5. Shake each bottle and listen to the different sounds together: 'This one sounds rainy! This one sounds crunchy!'
  6. Pick a favourite song — Twinkle Twinkle or If You're Happy and You Know It.
  7. Shake the bottles in time with the singing — show a steady beat first.
  8. Try shaking fast for fast parts and slow for slow parts.
  9. Swap bottles between songs to hear different sounds with different melodies.
  10. Finish with a 'concert' — perform one final song with all the shakers going at once.

Why it helps

The EYFS Development Matters framework links early mark-making and tool use to later writing skills — scooping, pouring, and gripping a shaker all build the hand strength and coordination needed for pencil control. Pairing the craft with singing activates multiple developmental pathways simultaneously, which the NHS Start for Life programme highlights as particularly effective for language learning in under-threes.

Variations

  • Add different fillings to compare sounds — dried lentils, small beads, or sand each sound unique.
  • Decorate the bottles with stickers or tape before filling for a full craft experience.
  • For younger toddlers, pre-fill and seal the bottles — skip straight to the singing and shaking.

Safety tips

  • Seal bottle lids with strong tape — rice and pasta are choking hazards if the lid comes off.
  • Supervise all filling and emptying to prevent loose grains being eaten.
  • Use plastic bottles only, never glass — and check for sharp edges around the bottle neck.

When to pause and seek extra support

Stop if your child becomes distressed, unsafe, or consistently frustrated by the activity. If play, behaviour, or development worries keep showing up across settings, check in with a qualified professional.

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