Toddler Instrument Craft: Hanging Drum

It is likely that your toddler has already discovered that the kitchen is full of fun and unique instruments for them to make music with. This includes everything from your canned goods, to your wooden spoons, to every piece of metal cookware that you have on hand. If you have a little drummer on your hand then your little one will love making this fun and easy toddler craft. The craft is for a simple hanging drum or just a sitting drum if you prefer not to get string involved.

Depending on the age of your toddler will determine if you want to have a string on the drum so that your child can hang it from their neck. The supplies that you will need are a round empty food container, like the cardboard cylinders that oats come in, construction paper, glue, scissors and of course string but again it is totally optional for the craft. If you are using a tall cylinder you will want to cut it into thirds. Your standard size oatmeal round container should make three drums. Don't throw out the pieces that you don't use, they can be used for other crafts later on. If you have no luck with a round container just use a square one. Once you have all of the supplies together you can begin to make the toddler craft.

Cut out a piece of paper to go around the round container. You actually want the size of the paper to be longer than the side of the container. You can fold down the extra pieces and this will help create the top of the drum. Next have your toddler trace around the round, or square, container so you can cut out the piece of paper for the top of the drum. If this proves to be a little too hard for your toddler to do you can give the duty of holding the container steady to them as you trace. Take this as a chance to remind them or teach them that this is a circle. Help your toddler glue the paper to the side of the round container and then fold the extra portion. If you are not going to use string on this craft glue the circle that you cut out for the top to the folded down paper. If you are going to use string wait to glue on the top until you have secured the string.

Carefully make a small hole on either side of the container about an inch or two away from the top. Thread the string through the first hole and tie it very tightly with several knots. Take the other end of the string and tie it to the other hole, again very tightly and with several knots. The string length should be based on what is comfortable for your child, the drum should be able to hang from their neck and they should be able to comfortably drum. Lastly glue the circle piece to the folded paper for the top of the drum. That step in this toddler instrument craft is probably the most fun. Cut out different shapes of different colors so your child can glue them to the sides and top of the drum for decorations.

With this craft you have the opportunity to talk about shapes and colors so in addition to being a music craft it is also educational. This craft will produce a quiet drum which you'll like a lot and your toddler will enjoy that they can use their imagination. You can find step by step pictures and instructions of this craft as well as many other fun and easy toddler crafts at EasyToddlerCrafts.com.