How To Craft A Drum
And use the drum in a purposeful way.
— April 19, 2024
Are you seeking an easy musical craft and activity? This drum craft will challenge your 3-5 year old to practice their fine motor skills and the activity will inspire them to explore the world of music.
I love making this drum with my boys. It’s easy, fast, and provides lots of entertainment after the product is complete. Also, it leads to reciting poetry with my boys. If you are interested in learning more ways to incorporate poetry in your life checkout this post, How to weave poetry seamlessly into your child’s life.
The drum craft is a part of a week’s worth of lessons, Dd is for Drum. It’s a week’s worth of musically themed activities, free printable, coloring pages, and book suggestions.
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How to make a drum
This activity takes a little pre-planning because you need to save cans. Another option is to place the contents in another container if you’re short on time. Optional cans include coffee, formula, or large trail mix containers. Anything that has a large flat lid and is at least a quart size is a great container for making a homemade drum.
While I work on the first two steps I provide my boys with coloring pages from Dd is for Drum.
Step 1: Prep the container.
Depending on the container you’ve chosen, you’ll want to remove the label and wipe it clean. Now, before your child is present, is also a good time to use a paring knife (my preferred method) or scissors to punch two holes on opposite sides. Do this just below the rim.
Step 2: Assemble supplies.
The supplies list includes: container, lightweight rope or shoestring, hot glue gun, and construction paper. Paint is optional.
Step 3: Create the drum.
Cut the rope so that when the ends are tied together the drum will sit comfortably below your child’s belly. Allow your child to choose the color of construction paper they want their drum to be. You may need to help them cut it size. Next, you’ll have your child squeeze the glue onto the construction paper. Now, help them wrap it around the drum of the container. Allow time to dry.
Step 4: Add the string.
Make holes in the construction paper where the holes in the container already are. Now, allow your child to thread the string through the holes. The ends should go from outside to inside, where you can now tie them together. Be sure to caution your child that on some containers the rim can be sharp on the inside, such as coffee canisters or formula containers.
Step 5: Secure the lid.
Lastly, use the hot glue gun to secure the lid to the top if it doesn’t twist on. I like to secure it because after it has been used a while the lid will not stay on well and will pop off. Also, I cannot monitor them at all times with it and if the rim on the inside is sharp this makes it safe for them to play with if I am not in the vicinity.
There are lots of containers that do not have this sharp edge, so do not let it deter you from this activity. The ones that twist off are perfect and do not have anything to worry about. However, I have made these drums out of formula cans with two 3 year olds and a five year old with no issues.
Step 6: The finishing touch.
This step is optional but my kids love painting so I will bring the tempera paint out of the closet. This is the tempera paint I prefer. You can also provide them with stickers, pom-poms, etc. Let your child’s imagination be the limit.
Use the drum in a purposeful way
Now that our drum is complete, it’s time to set the beat to Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem Marching Song from A Child’s Garden of Verses.
You can print this off for free. Invite the whole family to form a line and then recite the poem as you march around the living room, yard, or neighborhood. If there are multiple siblings, give different kiddos a chance to lead the way.
After I’ve recited the poem a few times, I’ll substitute names. Instead of saying “Mary Jane commands the party, Peter leads the rear.” I’ll use my kids’ names. “Marty commands the party, Mick leads the rear.” They love this personalization and it continues the marching for longer as they request their names in certain parts
Inspire a love for music
The drum is a fun and useful craft to make with your kiddo. With the poem you have a purposeful use of the drum to make it educational. If you decide to try out this activity with your child, please let me know how they and you enjoyed it in the comments.
Also, do not forget that this is a part of an entire week’s worth of lessons that are offered free, Dd is for Drum.
Homemade Drum
Instructions
Materials needed
Container. Caution: certain containers can be sharp on the inside rim.
Lightweight rope or shoestring
Hot glue gun
Construction paper
*Tempera paint
Instructions
Material Prep
1. Remove label if label is not completely glued down.
2. Take the lid off of the can and punch two holes on opposite sides (just below the rim). A sharp paring knife may be needed.
3. Cut rope for the drum to sit comfortably just below your child’s belly, leaving enough length to tie the ends together.
Kiddo Participation
4. Let your child choose a color of construction paper to wrap on the side of the can. You may need to help to cut it to size. This does not need to be perfect!
5. Have your child squeeze glue onto the cut construction paper and then assist them in pressing it onto the can’s barrel.
6. Allow to dry. With impatient kiddos you may forge ahead being careful not to rip the damp construction paper.
7. Using scissors lightly cut the construction paper through the existing holes.
8. Have your child thread the rope or shoestring through with the ends going from the outside to the inside.
9. Tie a knot at the ends or tie the string together (my preferred method).
10. Squeeze hot glue around the rim and press the lid back on top of the formula can. The age of your child will determine how much they help with this.
Optional: you can now let your child paint the drum.
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