Easy DIY Rain Makers

I don't know about your kiddos, but mine crave being able to run around outside.  So when the weather is too yucky to go outside, this mama has to get creative so we can get some energy out. 

Make these easy do-it-yourself rain makers and let the kids have some fun dancing around with them inside.  We call it the - Rain STOP Dance!  Here's how easy these are to make:

Easy DIY Rain Makers

Materials:
stiff cardboard tube
thin nails

construction paper
scissors
scotch tape
Mod Podge or other glue
washi tape (optional)
beads, beans, rice or other 'filling' that will make a neat sound

Directions:

If your cardboard tube is long (like a wrapping paper tube), cut it down to size.  For my almost-five-year-old (gulp, how did that happen??), we kept it about a foot long.  For my daughter who is not yet two, I made it about 8 inches or so.  The length doesn't really matter, except that you want your child to be able to hold and shake it with one hand easily.

Start with the grown up job - this is best done during naptime or when you have a moment to yourself (haha, I know) - gently push the nails through the cardboard tube.  You want to have the nails overlap one another inside the tube, so the 'filling' will be slowed down some as the kids play with the rain makers.  Once you feel like you have enough nails, cut out two construction paper circles and tape up one end - be sure you leave the other end open for your child to fill.

Fill the tube about a third of the way full with beads, beans, rice or whatever other small items you might have a bunch of.... this is a great hand-eye coordination skill for your little ones, and it's also a good time to talk about size, shape and color, and to practice counting for your older children, too.

When you're done filling the tube, tape the second paper circle over the open end.  Now, ou could wrap the tube in some colorful washi tape now, but I chose to use some of the kids artwork instead.  I cut the paper to the size of the roll, we slathered some Mod Podge on the backside, and wrapped around the tube.  After about 30 minutes, we came back and added a second layer of Mod Podge on top of the tube to help secure the ends and seams. 

When it's all done, you have a lovely creative rainmaker, perfect for the Rain STOP Dance, or a fun noisemaker for an impromptu puddle parade!