DIY rain stick

One of Ladybugs favourite things to play with in music class are the rain sticks. It's funny cause we have most of the other percussion instruments still from my Kindergym days, but no rain stick!

No worries, these things are easy peasy to make. All you need is a postal tube, some aluminium foil and some rice (and maybe some super glue to secure the ends on if you have a curious little one!)

You can decorate the postal tube however you like - we have a stack of pre-painted blue and pink ones but you could decorate them with paint, stickers, glitter, etc

Roll out a big length of aluminium foil then scrunch it up into a long sausage shape.

Then twirl it around into a spiral as you push it into the inside of the postal tube, insuring that the foil goes from end to end.

Pour in some dry rice (we used about 1/2 cup)

Place both ends back on the postal tube. Use some super glue around the edges if you are worried about escaping rice (or poured out rice ;-)

To create a 'rain sound' just hold the tube vertical and listen as the rice tumbles down through the aluminium foil.

Ladybug loves having her very own rain stick now.

Pin It Now!

30 Screen free rainy day activities

We've had a lot of rain here lately and apparently more to come. Try out some of our screen free rainy day activities and hopefully your time indoors will be a bit brighter.

- Put some music on and DANCE
- Blow bubbles
- Play chasee
- Build a tower (and knock it down)
- Use furniture to make an obstacle course (chairs to climb under, cushions to climb over, baskets to dodge around, etc)
- Cook together
- Have a tea party with stuffed animals/dolls
- Play peek a boo
- Make a cubby house with bed sheets (and have lunch in there)
- Play toss with a basket/bucket and beanbags or soft toys
- Play the drums using pots and pans and spoons
- Read books together
- Have a picnic in the lounge room
- Sing songs together
- Play limbo with toilet paper
- Use spray bottles and cloths to clean the windows
- Colour in and draw together
- Play bowling with plastic cups
- Act out (or draw) your child's favourite story
- Play dress ups
- Make a balance beam on the ground with masking tape
- Give old wooden blocks a make over by re-painting them with bright colours and patterns
- Put on raincoats and gumboots, get an umbrella and go for a walk in the rain (if it's not too windy and cold!)
- Have a puppet show (use stuffed toys if you don't have puppets)
- Go swimming in the bath tub
- Stickers!
- Play board games (yes, they still exist!)
- Teach your kids how to play card games (I love Skip Bo and Uno)
- Give all the cars a car wash in the bath (or bath the dollies)
- Make up silly rhymes and stories

Pin It Now!

'Weading Wednesday' - Advance Australia Fair

Having just had our Australia Day celebrations I thought this book was a suitable pick for this weeks review.


As the title suggests, this book, by P.D McCormick is Australia's National Anthem in story book form. It was Ladybugs favourite for awhile and she was bringing it to us daily to be read! She loves the colourful bright pictures even if she doesn't quiet understand the meaning yet.

Having an ex - Army dad, we're pretty patriotic here. Teaching Ladybug about the country she lives in is important to us, not just in the sense of National Anthems and so forth, but also about our culture, lifestyle, native animals, environment, etc. I love the country we live in and can't wait to help her discover and learn about it too.

The book has BOTH verses, which Mr Ladybug and I are now pretty competent in (making us look super, super patriotic whenever this fact is found out!)

It even has the music - totally lost on us unfortunately but may be useful to some!

Pin It Now!