Parents have been spending a lot more time at home with their children, since South Africa’s Covid-19 lockdown started in March. By this time you might be running out of ways to keep the kids entertained. These musical instruments are fun and easy to make out of household items and are guaranteed to keep the youngsters entertained. 

Rain sticks

Tilt these funky rain sticks in different directions to listen to the “rain”.

You’ll need:

• A long, solid cardboard tube
• One small sheet of cardboard
• Tape
• Rice
• Decorations (Felt, paint, foil, beads etc)

Method: 

• Put the one open end of the cardboard tube on the sheet of cardboard and trace the shape of the round opening, twice. 
• Cut these two circles out.
• Use the tape to secure one circle over one end of the cardboard tube. Make sure that it’s on tightly and that there are no gaps. 
• Pour rice into the other end of the tube until it’s about a fifth full. 
• Tape the remaining circle over the open end of the tube.
• Decorate the rain stick however you chose. 

Bongo drums

Tap away on these super-easy home-made bongo drums!

You’ll need: 

• An empty coffee tin with a plastic lid
• Tape 
• Coloured paper and pencils

Method: 

• Tape the coffee tin’s lid down securely.
• Take strips of coloured paper that are long enough to wrap around the tin; and decorate them with your pencils. 
• Tape or glue the paper to the side of the tin to decorate your drum. 

Tambourine

Once you’ve made this tambourine, you’ll just have to stage an at-home concert!

You’ll need: 

• Two plastic paper plates, with a stiffer, rounded bottom
• Stapler with staples
• Popcorn kernels
• Crayons or pens
• Stickers

Method: 

• Use the crayons, pens and stickers to decorate the underside of each paper plate. 
• Place the paper plates on top of each other, with the decorations facing outwards. 
• Staple the paper plates together all the way around the edge, leaving a gap at the top. Make sure the staples are close together.
• Using a cup or funnel, pour some popcorn kernels into the paper plates. 
• Staple the gap closed, and voila! You have your own tambourine!

Baby rattle

It’ll be easy to please the tiniest family members with this easy-peasy rattle. 

You’ll need: 

• An empty plastic 500ml bottle with a lid
• Tape
• Popcorn kernels
• Non-toxic craft glue
• Strips of colourful felt

Method: 

• Pour popcorn kernels into the bottle until it’s about a quarter full.
• Screw the lid on tightly and tape around the edges to ensure it’s secure. 
• Glue different colours of felt all around the bottle, so that it’s soft and attractive for baby!

Castanets

Fill the air with the sounds of Spain as you tap away with your DIY castanets!

You’ll need:

• A sheet of box cardboard
• Ruler
• Paint
• Strong, non-toxic craft glue
• Two or more bottle tops

Method: 

• Use your ruler to trace a rectangle that’s 17cmx3cm onto the cardboard.
• Cut the rectangle out. 
• Paint one side of the rectangle.
• Once the paint is dry, fold the rectangle in half along its length with the unpainted side on the inside. 
• Glue each bottle to the inside ends of the cardboard. 
• Once the glue has dried, grip your castanet between your thumb and forefinger and tap them away for some musical magic. 

Please supervise your children when they’re playing with these toys, as some of them have small parts which are a choking hazard. Always be sure to use non-toxic products. Most of all, have fun as you create and play with these lovely homemade instruments!