You only need 2 things to make this really fun musical instrument for your little one. It takes a few minutes to make but you'll have hours of noisy fun with it!
Rattles help develop your baby's listening skills and their rhythm. These are both important things that will help them going forward as they learn how to talk.
You could try shaking along when you're singing a nursery rhyme, or letting your little one take the lead.
How to make a rice rattle
Preparation time
This instrument takes less than 5 minutes to make.
You will need:
- A used plastic bottle
- Uncooked rice
- (Optional) Scrunched up tin foil
Method
1. Rinse out a used plastic bottle. This could be a ketchup bottle, a milk carton, or anything else you find lying around the house.
2. Fill a third of the bottle with uncooked rice. If your bottle is transparent, you can add balls of scrunched up tin foil for added sensory fun.
3. You're now ready to play! Try repeating the word "shake" and build up to "and…STOP". Change the time between these two words to build up anticipation.
Keep and eye on your little one at all times during craft activities and playtime. Remember to keep small and sharp objects out of baby's reach.
Why are rattles good for babies?
Even from birth, rattles are a great way to aid development. You can use a rattle to help babies with their vision. Slowly move the rattle near your child's face, encouraging them to track it with their eyes as it moves. This builds focus and attention, as well as helping neck muscles.
As they get older and begin to hold rattles themselves, their motor skills get tested. By holding on to the toy whilst shaking it, they're developing the muscles in their hands, which can help their hand-eye coordination later in life.
Rattles can also be very motivating for babies. Putting them slightly out of reach and encouraging baby to get them can help promote motor milestones such as crawling, reaching, or even pulling to stand.
So even though rattles might seem incredibly simple, these toys are great for providing a range of experiences for your baby.
