Simple and Fun Native American Crafts for Kids: Rattles

I myself know quite a bit about Native American culture as I am Native American myself. My Indian background comes from my father who is full blooded Sioux, my mother is English. I grew up with a father who was very in tune with his culture and taught me many great things over my life. One I remember very well was when I was a very young girl, about 6-years-old, my father found a stick in the shape of a "Y" and said to me, "this would make a great rattle!" But I would say that it was more like a beautiful piece of art work.

This piece is very easy to assemble and you don't need many materials. You can use stuff you have around the house like beads, buttons, washers, spools and yarn. Or if you want a more Native American feel to it you can go to your local craft store to purchase such things like, rawhide, leather, suede straps, shells, rocks, feathers, bones, fur and clay beads.

Materials you will need

* A "Y" shaped stick

* Scissors

* Glue Gun or Tape

* Suede Leather Straps or Yarn

* Beads, Feathers, Shells, Spools, Anything that will make noise

You will want to start by taking the suede straps or yarn and tie it to the base of the "Y" shaped stick, ( if the child can not tie a knot, use glue gun or tape). Start winding the suede straps or yarn around the "Y" shaped stick alternating colors of your choice or just use all suede to keep it more authentic. Along the way up while winding , add some of your decorative beads and feathers and continue this process all the way up, bells can be used for added sound.

Then the last step would be to tie a piece of your suede or yarn to one arm of the "Y" shaped stick, string along some of your noise makers onto the piece and tie the other end to the other side of the arm and there you have it!

A beautiful Native American rattle which is normally used as a musical instrument in most Native American ceremonies.

Another quick and easy Native American rattle you can make with stuff you have around the house is the Leg Rattle. This would be appropriate for ages 4-6 years of age.

Materials you will need

* Small Hole Punchers

* Rawhide or Light Weight Cardboard ( from a cereal box)

* Paint or Markers

* Suede Straps or Fabric Scraps

* Beads and Feathers

You will first need to cut the cardboard or rawhide into 2-4 inch strips that are long enough to fit around your ankle, you will want this to fit snug so it will not slip and slide. Decorate the pain side of your rawhide or cardboard with the paint and markers with animal or geometric designs.

Now use the hole puncher to punch holes all along the bottoms edge spacing about 1 inch apart, also punch one hole in each top corner. Now cut the fabric into ½ inch roughly 6-8 inches in length and the amount depends on how many holes you have punched.

Start stringing the fabric from the second hole on each side leaving the two end holes on the bottom empty as well as the two top holes. After you string the fabric through the hole you will want an equal amount of the fabric hanging on each side. Now string three to six beads on each piece of fabric on both sides. Before you tie the end of the fabric after you have beaded it, clue a feather to the fabric and then pull the beads down and the feather will hole the beads in place without having to tie it off.

Your hand made Native American Leg Rattle is now finished and ready to be worn. Native Americans often adorn theses types of Leg Rattles during ceremonies such as POW WOW'S, Dancing and Drumming ceremonies.

Please take a look at the photos I took of the "Y" shaped Rattle my daughter made and the Leg Rattle my son made in less than thirty minutes.

The references for this article came from, Native American instrument.com and Native American crafts.com