Making Easter Egg Shakers
Every spring, those hollow, snap-open plastic eggs seem to multiply in the store aisles. You know the ones—they usually hold a couple of jellybeans and end up kicked under the couch or forgotten in a drawer by Tuesday. Instead of tossing them out this year, our Early Intervention team has a ridiculously easy DIY project to put them to good use.
Instead of tossing them out, you can actually use them for some really easy sensory play. One thing we hear from parents at Blind Beginnings all the time is how the simplest activities often end up being the biggest hits. Making a batch of egg shakers is a great way to support early listening skills, and honestly, it takes about five minutes to put together.
Gathering your supplies
You really just need a few plastic Easter eggs (make sure they snap shut securely) and some tape or a hot glue gun. For the fillings, just raid your pantry or craft drawer. You only need about a teaspoon or two of ingredients per egg.
Putting them together
Pop an egg open, drop in your filling, and snap it shut. You’ll definitely want to seal the seam right around the middle with strong tape or hot glue. Otherwise, a vigorous jam session will end up with lentils all over the living room rug.
If you want to add an extra tactile element, try sticking some textured fabric, craft foam, or bumpy stickers to the outside of the shell.
Finding the right sound
The best part is experimenting with what goes inside. Kids will love comparing the different weights and sounds:
Sand or fine salt gives a very soft, quiet whisper.
Rice or quinoa creates that classic rain-stick swish.
Lentils or split peas have a bit more weight to them. They make a solid, bumpy clatter.
Small beads or buttons are great for a really loud, distinct rattle.
If you want to try something different, tiny pebbles give a much deeper sound, or you can drop in a few small bells for a sharp jingle.
Once the glue is dry, just turn on some music and shake along. Try tapping out a rhythm and asking your child to copy you. If you made a few different types, see if they can sort the shakers by sound, separating the heavy rattles from the quiet ones.
It's an incredibly simple little project. But it gives kids a fun, hands-on way to explore sound and touch completely on their own terms.