Music Crafts and Activities for Kids

Crafting with Preschoolers is a lot of fun... especially when the crafts centre around a fun theme. I love the idea of spending an afternoon making music crafts with little ones. So, today I am sharing three of my favourite music crafts to make with Preschoolers.

I love this xylophone craft, and it is a super-easy paper craft. Using different colours and sizes of paper, kids can easily use glue and scissors to make this fun craft. Just add some pom poms to a couple of craft sticks, and kids will love "pretending" to play this colourful musical instrument.

Jingle bells are another simple crafting option. Kids can practice their fine motor skills by stringing bells onto an pipe cleaner and then turning it into a "jingle bracelet".

And who doesn't love a good paper towel roll craft? Creating a kazoo from a paper towel roll couldn't be easier. Colour a paper towel roll, use a hole punch to make a hole near the top, attach a piece of wax paper to the top, and secure it with an elastic. The kids can make a fun kazoo sound by humming into it. It takes some practice, but it is a lot of fun!

You can also make rain stick from a paper towel role by twisting up a piece of tin foil, placing the tin foil inside the roll, and sealing both ends with wax paper and elastics.

Do you like crafting with preschoolers? Music crafts are fantastic, and you can always end the day with a good dance party... and who doesn't love a good dance party?

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

DIY Drums Kids Can Make From Recycled Cans

Isn't making a musical instrument something that should be part of every person's childhood? It's a wonderful way for kids to be creative, learn about music, and explore the science of sound. Today, I am sharing the instructions for a darling set of drums that my 9 year old made as part of class project. I think he did an excellent job crafting three drums made from tin cans.

To make the tin can drums, my son started by collecting the supplies he needed: three empty tin cans (cleaned with the tops removed), colourful balloons, painting supplies, and elastic bands.

Then, he carefully painted each drum with acrylic paint. (He did a couple of coats to make sure the colours were vibrant.)

Once the tin cans were dry, he cut the tops off the balloons and stretched them over the tops of the tin cans. The elasticity of the balloons holds them in place, but to make the surface tighter, he secured the balloons with elastic bands.

Check out the sound of the drums when he hits them with dowels. Cool, right???

I think this is a perfect project for a rainy day, don't you? I hope you make one (or more) of these fun tin can drums with your little ones. If you do, let me know how they turn out!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Sing with Me

Lately, I have been reading a lot about the importance of music to the cognitive development of children.  It has been proven to help children with coordination, learning to read, and self-esteem.  I couldn't agree more.

My oldest two rocking out before the youngest "band member" was born

Music has always been a big part of the lives my my boys.  Despite the fact that I can't carry a tune to save my life {seriously!}, we are always singing, listening to music, and dancing around the kitchen.  {And in case you are wondering... my dancing is not very good either.  lol}

I don't think it matters what you listen to, but in case you are looking for musical inspiration, I thought I would share a few of our favorites here (in no particular order):

1)  Disney Music - We have a great Disney compilation CD, but the music from the Lion King is our favorite.  These songs are always catchy and fun to sing along with.

2)  Music by Kathy Reid-Naiman - You may not know the name, but her songs are great.  If you want to add a few new songs to your iPod, look her up on iTunes.  We really like:  "It's a Beautiful Day", "The Truck Song", and "Sleeping Bunnies".

3)  Raffi - I am partial to Raffi because I grew up listening to him, but my boys like him too.  The funny/silly scenarios in "Down by the Bay" always manage to bring a smile to their little faces, and "I Wonder if I am Growing" always brings a tear to my eye.  :-)

4)  Personalized CDs - We have a couple of different versions of these "put your child's name in the songs" CDs, and my boys still enjoy them.  I also think they make good baby gifts.

5)  Sesame Street - We have the "Sesame Street Platinum" CD.  It is a great CD with lots of songs that moms and dads will remember from their childhood.  Who doesn't love "Rubber Ducky" and "C is for Cookie"???

We also love: Sharon, Lois and Bram, our Kindermusik CD, The Wiggles and many more.

I hope you feel inspired to sing and dance.  Don't worry if you aren't very good... your kids won't care.  :-)

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

New Year's Eve Noisemakers

My three boys absolutely love things that make noise...  go figure! 

So, as part of our "New Year's Eve" celebrations, we made our own noisemakers.  {We made them to ring in the new year, but they are fun to make any time.}

Want to "up" the volume (and fun!) in your house? 

Here is how to make a Kazoo out of a toilet paper roll:

1)  Have the kids decorate a toilet paper or paper towel roll.

2)  Use a hole punch to make two holes at the top of the tube.

3)  Cut out a square of wax paper, and secure it to the top of the tube with a rubber band.

And, here is how to make a paper plate noisemaker:

1)  Have the kids decorate the bottoms of two (sturdy) paper plates.

2)  Put about 3/4 cup of rice on one paper plate, and place the the other plate on top.

3)  Attach the two plates with lots of staples.

These projects are both really easy to make, and they use materials that you probably already have in your cupboards and recycling bins.  Fun, quick and easy... a great New Year's Eve project to do with the kids.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Jingle Bells

My boys LOVE singing Christmas Carols, and impromptu "sing-a-longs" are a common occurrence in our house this time of year.  So... we decided to make some homemade "Jingle Bells". 

Want to make a super-easy craft?  All you need are: pipe cleaners (in Christmas colors) and bells.

Get the kids to thread the bells onto the pipe cleaners.

Then, when all the bells are on, just twist the ends together to make a ring.

Easy, right?  And... they don't have to be just for Christmas.  Jingle Bells are fun any time of the year.  :-)

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)