How to Make Musical Instruments for Toddlers

Cut off the top of a clean milk carton. Cut out a piece of cardboard to fit. Attach the cardboard to the top of the carton with electrical tape. Make drumsticks from two unsharpened pencils. Push the pencils into large erasers to let your toddler make a greater range of sounds.

Cut five drinking straws into equal lengths. Attach a washer to each straw. Glue the ends of the straws to two paper plates. The paper plates should be of equal size. You can also use styrofoam or plastic plates.

Fill up five different-sized plastic soda bottles with varying amounts of water. Cover tightly. Glue the soda bottles to each other in size order. Make xylophone sticks with crayons, plastic straws or markers with the tops glued on.

Draw a design with markers or paint on two disposable plates. Place ¼ cup of dried beans, uncooked rice or peanuts in a tightly sealed plastic baggie. Place on top of one of the decorated plates. To make a handle for the maraca staple a piece of thick cardboard to the side of one of the plates. Staple or glue the second plate to the top.

Clean out a medium-sized plastic bowl. The bowl should be large enough to fit in your toddler's lap. Wrap five rubber bands around the top of the bowl. The rubber bands should be of varying thicknesses to make a range of sounds. The bowl can be filled with different items such as cereal or water. This will change the sound of the guitar.