TinyStepper
Child mid-throw aiming a colourful ball at a laundry basket in the garden

Rhythm Shaker Dance

Fill plastic bottles with rice to make shakers, then dance and shake to your favourite songs — a high-energy music and movement session.

Activity details

12m–3y15 minshighbothMasking TapePlastic BottlesRice or Pasta

Instructions

Get ready
  • Give your child a clean, empty plastic bottle and a small bowl of rice or dried pasta.
  • Help them scoop or pour the rice into the bottle — filling it about a third full gives the best sound.
  1. Give your child a clean, empty plastic bottle and a small bowl of rice or dried pasta.
  2. Help them scoop or pour the rice into the bottle — filling it about a third full gives the best sound.
  3. Screw the lid on tightly and secure it with tape so it cannot be opened.
  4. Shake the bottle together: 'Listen! You made music! Shake shake shake!'
  5. Put on a favourite song and start dancing, shaking the bottle in time with the beat.
  6. Model different movements: shake high above your head, shake low near the ground, shake behind your back, shake while spinning.
  7. Try a freeze game: when the music stops, freeze with your shaker in the air — when it starts, dance again.
  8. End with a slow, gentle song and shake the bottle softly like a lullaby rattle to bring the energy down.

Parent tip

Set out masking tape and plastic bottles before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

Child smiling on a cushion after active play with a ball and scattered cushions nearby

What success looks like

Flushed cheeks, big smiles, and a calmer child afterwards. If they want to do it again, you’ve found a winner.

Making your own instrument and then dancing with it combines creative construction, musical exploration, and vigorous physical activity into one irresistible package. This activity starts with the satisfying process of filling a plastic bottle with rice or pasta to create a shaker, then moves into an energetic dance session where your child shakes, stamps, and spins to music. The homemade shaker gives them a sense of ownership over their instrument, and the dancing provides exactly the kind of whole-body movement that burns off energy and regulates arousal levels.

Why it helps

Musical activities that combine rhythm and movement activate multiple brain areas simultaneously — the auditory cortex processes the beat, the motor cortex coordinates the shaking, and the cerebellum manages the whole-body dance movements. This cross-brain activation is why music and movement sessions are so effective for developing coordination, timing, and body awareness. The freeze-and-dance element also exercises inhibitory control — the ability to stop a fun action on cue — which is one of the core executive functions needed for school readiness. NHS guidelines for under-fives emphasise that active play builds not just physical strength but also mood, sleep quality, and concentration.

Variations

  • Make two shakers with different fillings — rice in one, pasta in the other — and compare the sounds.
  • Decorate the bottle with stickers or tape before filling it to make a personalised instrument.
  • For early walkers, hold the shaker and let them grab and shake it while you hold their other hand for balance.

Safety tips

  • Ensure the bottle lid is taped securely shut — rice and dried pasta are choking hazards if the bottle opens during vigorous shaking.
  • Clear the dance space of hard furniture edges and sharp corners before starting.
  • Watch for dizziness if your child spins — toddlers can lose their balance quickly after turning and may need steadying.

Want to try another?

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