DIY Musical Instruments for Kids: Fun and Easy Craft Ideas
We all know how much kids love to make noise – I mean, music! So why not channel that energy into something creative and fun? Making musical instruments from household items is not only a fantastic way to keep your little ones entertained, but it also sparks their creativity and love for music. Plus, it’s an excellent opportunity for some quality family time. Of course theres the simple, wooden spoon on pots and pans which the little ones love! But let’s dive into some easy DIY musical instrument projects you can whip up at home and make into a fun craft activity! 1. Shaker Bottles What You’ll Need: Empty plastic bottles (water bottles work great) Rice, beans, or pasta Tape or glue Optional: stickers, paint, or markers for decoration Instructions: Clean and Dry: Make sure your plastic bottles are clean and dry. Fill It Up: Fill the bottles with rice, beans, or pasta – experiment with different materials to see how the sound changes. Seal It: Secure the cap with tape or glue to prevent any spills. Decorate: Let the kids go wild with stickers, paint, or markers to personalize their shakers. 2. Rubber Band Guitar What You’ll Need: Empty tissue box or shoe box Rubber bands of various sizes A paper towel tube (optional) Glue or tape Optional: paint or markers for decoration Instructions: Prepare the Box: Remove any plastic from the tissue box opening. If using a shoe box, cut a circular hole in the center. Stretch the Bands: Stretch rubber bands around the box, over the opening. Use different sizes to create different pitches. Add a Neck: For a guitar neck, tape or glue a paper towel tube to one end of the box. Decorate: Let the kids decorate their guitars to make them truly their own. 3. Tin Can Drums What You’ll Need: Empty tin cans (various sizes) Balloons Scissors Rubber bands Optional: markers or paint for decoration Instructions: Clean the Cans: Make sure the tin cans are clean and free of sharp edges. Make the Drum Head: Cut the end off a balloon and stretch it tightly over the top of the can. Secure It: Hold the balloon in place with a rubber band. Decorate: Let your little ones decorate the tin cans with markers or paint. Drum Away: Use your hands or wooden spoons as drumsticks and let the beat begin! 4. Paper Plate Tambourine What You’ll Need: Two paper plates Jingle bells Hole punch String or yarn Markers or paint for decoration Instructions: Decorate the Plates: Let the kids decorate the bottom sides of the plates. Punch Holes: Punch holes around the edge of the plates, about an inch apart. Add Bells: Thread the string through the holes, adding a jingle bell every few holes. Tie knots to secure the bells. Assemble: Place the plates together with the decorated sides facing out, and finish threading the string around the edge to hold them together. 5. Spoon Maracas What You’ll Need: Plastic spoons Plastic Easter eggs Rice, beans, or beads Tape Optional: markers or stickers for decoration Instructions: Fill the Eggs: Open the plastic Easter eggs and fill them with rice, beans, or beads. Secure with Spoons: Place the filled egg between two plastic spoons. Tape It Up: Use tape to secure the spoons around the egg. Decorate: Add some flair with markers or stickers. Shake Away: Your maracas are ready for some shaking fun! These DIY musical instruments are a fantastic way to get creative with your kids and make some joyful noise together. Plus, they’re perfect for a mini family concert! At Coastal Babysitters, we love seeing families bond over fun and creative activities. So gather your materials, unleash your inner musician, and have a blast making music with your little ones. Don’t forget to share your creations with us on social media – we’d love to see your DIY instruments in action! Happy crafting!
Best Wedding Venues For Kids on the Gold Coast
Best Wedding Venues For Kids on the Gold Coast. Here at Coastal Babysitters, we’ve had the privilege of providing wedding babysitting services on the Gold Coast to many happy brides and grooms. We’ve seen firsthand what it takes for a venue to be kid-friendly. In our experience, the best wedding venues all share one common strength. Convenience. When everything from the ceremony to the reception and even accommodation are within walking distance of one another, it takes away all the fuss. No car seats, lugging around supplies, resituating in a new space and dealing with the ‘are-we-there-yet’ boredom. Pair that with some space to play and any venue can be kid-friendly. Here are our favourite child-friendly wedding venues on the Gold Coast that will tick all your boxes. Top 5 Kid-Friendly Gold Coast Wedding Venues Summergrove Estate Let’s kick it off with our favourite Gold Coast child-friendly wedding venue, Sommergrove Estate. Sitting atop the Gold Coast hinterland, this place has it all. Say ‘I do’ while looking out over 73 acres of sprawling countryside or opt for a more traditional ceremony in their gorgeous chapel. With accommodation, ceremony locations, and the reception all within walking distance, this is the perfect spot for kids. We’ve provided wedding babysitting services for a few ceremonies here and the little ones love exploring the gardens while the adults enjoy a stress-free day. The Acre – Boomerang Farm Another Gold Coast hinterland gem is The Acre on Boomerang Farm. This farm has been hosting weddings for years, so they know how to make your big day as seamless as possible. Enjoy a private ceremony overlooking Mudgeeraba Creek, then stroll over to the hundred-year-old barn for a picturesque reception while the kids play in the large open green space. EcoStudio Fellini For anything from a small wedding followed by casual cocktails to an extravagant ceremony with a luxurious sit-down reception, check out EcoStudio Fellini. Located in the foothills of Springbrook National Park, there is accommodation available on site and plenty for the kids to explore with outdoor lounges and even a giant chess set. Pacific Beach Function Centre For those who prefer beach vibes over the hinterland, you can’t go wrong with the Pacific Beach Function Centre. Their stretch of beach is on private property, allowing you to get married in peace as the waves roll in behind you with direct access to the dunes and water. From there you can step inside to a fully licensed reception with a large balcony for those romantic sunset views. Bilinga Beach Weddings Love the beach, but don’t want sandy feet on your wedding day? Bilinga Beach Weddings has you covered. Get married on their large private deck that overlooks the ocean, then simply move inside to their function room for your private reception with a view. The kids can explore the beach with a wedding babysitter while you toast the day from the deck. Wedding Babysitting Services Need wedding babysitting services for your Gold Coast wedding? Look no further! Contact us or check out our blog for more information.