5 instruments kids can make
Need a few projects to keep the kids busy? These easy musical instruments are great fun to make and play with – embrace the noise and start a family band!
Encouraging creativity and play while the kids are home from school is more important than ever, so spark their imaginations with these colourful, homemade instruments.
Each one is simple and safe to make, using everyday items you can find around the house.
For more hands-on crafts, see how to make slime, salt dough, oobleck and moon sand with affordable ingredients and easy steps.
Keep the little ones entertained at home with our summer activities for kids, sensory play ideas, fun yoga for kids and birthday ideas for kids at home.
See our new Kid's Kitchen series for essential cookery skills, plus easy recipes kids can make and kids summer baking projects.
Browse our family & kids hub for plenty of inspiration.
Homemade kids instruments
1. Elastic band guitar
Rescue some items from the recycling box and make this easy elastic band guitar using a tissue box as the frame. We’ve used coloured elastic bands – choose varied sizes and thicknesses to create different notes – and decorated it with buttons.
How to make an elastic band guitar
2. Paper straw panpipes
You can rustle up this wind instrument in no time with just a few straws, glue, a lolly stick and ribbon to decorate. We’ve made a cool rainbow effect with these pretty paper straws, but you can use whatever you have to hand and it’ll sound just as great.
3. Lolly stick harmonica
These little harmonicas are made from wooden lolly sticks and can make an impressive sound for their size! Kids and adults alike will enjoy playing with these – a lovely afternoon project for the family.
4. Wooden spoon maracas
Our simple maraca is made using a fillable plastic egg and wooden spoons – if you need an alternative, you can always make a simple shaker from a cardboard tube.
5. Tin can drum
Kids will enjoy making their own colourful drum almost as much as they’ll like making noise with them! Try this simple craft activity, either using a tin can or a cardboard food container.
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