How to Make a Percussion Tambourine Instrument for Kids

Use paper plates to make a tambourine for kids.

Tambourines make great percussion instruments, or noisemakers, for kids. This is because they do not require any special skills to play and are simple enough to be made by most children. In addition to this, a basic tambourine can be made at a very low cost per tambourine. You'll likely even have most of the materials needed to make a tambourine in your home or classroom.

Things You'll Need

• Paper plates, 2
• Glue
• Hole punch
• String
• Bells

Instructions

1. Take two paper plates and glue them together facing inward towards one another.

2. Allow the glue to dry.

3. Punch holes around the perimeter of the glued together plates. Only punch as many holes in the plate as you have bells. For instance, if you have six bells, punch six holes into the plates.

4. Cut a piece of string into several small sections. Allot one piece of string for each hole in your paper plate.

5. Tie one end of a piece of string to a bell and then tie the other end of the string to one of the holes in the paper plate. Repeat this process until each hole has a bell attached to it.

Tips & Warnings

• Make each tambourine unique by allowing the kids to decorate their own tambourine with a crayon or marker.

References

• Kinder Info: Tambourine Craft For Children