DIY Paper Plate Tambourine Craft

2 paper plates

Dried beans or rice (a small handful)

Stapler or strong tape (adult handles this)

Stickers, crayons, or washable markers for decorating

Phone or speaker for music

Place a handful of dried beans or rice in the center of one paper plate. Not too many — you want room for them to move.

Place a second paper plate face-down on top to create a sealed pocket.

Staple or tape the edges closed securely all the way around. This is an adult step — make it tight so nothing escapes.

Let your child decorate the outside with stickers, crayons, or washable markers. This is their instrument, so it should look how they want.

Show your child two ways to play: shake it side to side, or tap it against their other palm like a real tambourine.

Put on a favorite song and play the tambourine along to the beat together.

Try holding it still and just tapping the top with fingertips for a quieter, more controlled sound.

Double the tape or add extra staples. Two-year-olds are determined openers and you don't want beans all over the floor mid-song.

Try different fillings for different tambourines: rice for a soft shh-shh, beans for a louder rattle, small bells if you have them for a jingle.

The decoration step matters — kids play their instruments longer and with more pride when they made them and personalized them.

Show your child how to hold the tambourine up high and shake it overhead, then down by their knees. This adds a movement element.

Save it for later. A well-made paper plate tambourine can last several weeks of jam sessions.