TinyStepper
Parent and child clapping hands together mid-nursery-rhyme on a rug

Musical Shaker Craft

Make simple shakers from bottles and dried rice or pasta, then shake along while singing favourite songs together.

Activity details

18m–3y15 minsmediumindoorPlastic BottlesRice or Pasta

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.

Parent tip

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

Parent and child sitting face-to-face laughing together in a warm shared moment

What success looks like

Back-and-forth between you — words, gestures, shared pretend. Connection is the real outcome here.

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.

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.

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