Do you have kids at home? Are you looking to do something creative, fun and educational with them that doesn’t cost a fortune? How about creating a Rock Band??!! You don’t need to give an arm and a leg to get an instrument for your kid – all you need are your own two hands. With moderate craft skills and a teensy bit of creativity, you and your child will be rocking out to “Itsy Bitsy Spider” in no time.
It’s all the adventure of going on tour without ever leaving your living room! Here’s what you need to start your next jam session with your Small McCartney:
What You Will Need:
- Maracas Materials
- Plastic spoons
- Plastic eggs
- Washi tape or duct tape
- Dried rice or beans
- Guitar Materials
- A shoebox or any other small box
- Rubber bands
- Markers or crayons for decorating (optional)
- Bongo Materials
- Assortment of tin cans (avoid any with sharp edges)
- Large balloons in various colors
- Duct tape
- Scissors
Egg Maracas:
- Fill the eggs with beans
- Place egg between two plastic spoons
- Wrap tape around the egg and spoon to hold them in place
- Use more tape to bind the handles together
- Sh-sh-shake the maracas in time to make some music
Shoebox Guitars:
- Decorate the shoebox with markers or crayons (we’re 99% sure a fiery streak down the side will make it louder)
- Wrap several rubber bands around the box
- Play by plucking the strings at the open side of the box
Tin Can Bongos:
- Cut the top off of a balloon and stretch it over the top of an open tin can
- Cut the top off a second balloon and poke some small holes in it (a second color will look best!)
- Stretch the second balloon so you have two balloons covering the tin can
- Wrap tape around the base of both balloons to keep them in place
This idea for a Rock Band on a Shoestring came from our friends at KinderCare. At KinderCare online, you can find lots of different creative activities for your kids at home.
What is your favorite kid’s activity at KinderCare?
I made a guitar out of rubber bands when I was a kid for a science fair project. Homemade instruments are so fun.
What a great idea! My kids loved anything that made noise when they were younger.
That is so cute! I think the best play is the kind that encourages creativity and imagination.
I love the maracas. Definitely my favorite part of being in a kid band.
This is such a cute famiily activity idea! I love that you can make the instruments from recycled items too.
I loved pretending to be a rock band with my brothers and sisters. We had a lot of drummers playing my mom’s pots and pans. These instrument DIY’s are so much fun!
I remember always making homemade instruments when I was a kid. I forgot how much fun they can be!
Oh so fun! My kids would have so much fun with all of this. What a great idea!
My kids used to love making music when they were younger. They would make drums out of anything they could and play them.
Your kids have something all rock bands need that you can’t buy; swagger! They are so beyond cute. You have so many great musical instrument ideas. My kids loved the little shaker eggs and how brilliant to tape them in between spoons!
What a fun activity to build and enjoy as a family. All kids love making sounds and performing.
My kids are really into making music right now! I love these homemade instrument ideas!
What a fun idea for the kids to create and play with. I love the egg maracas!
We used to make homemade instruments all the time when I was a kid and through my years. Kiddo had fun when I showed her how we used to make things.
Oh my goodness! So stinking cute! My kids would have a blast with this. They love making their own band!
That is such a cute idea. I think projects like this that promote family fun and imagination are always the best.