Making and crafts

Make a sealed shaker

Fill a small sealed bottle with dried rice, decorate it and shake along to a favorite song.

Who might enjoy it: People who enjoy music and making something useful with their hands. Skip it for anyone who puts small things in their mouth.

Setup: About 10 minutes
Activity: 15–30 minutes
Cost: Low cost
Mess: Little mess
Where: At a table, seated-friendly
Help: Hands-on help

Materials: 6 everyday things, listed below

Start activity

What you need

A small clean plastic bottle with a screw-on lid, such as a juice or water bottle, empty and dry
A small handful of dried rice
A funnel, or a folded piece of paper to guide the rice
Craft glue and strong tape for sealing the lid
Colored tape, paper or stickers for decoration
A phone or player with a steady song

No need to buy anything special

No dried rice? Use dried split peas or lentils, but never small beads, coins or buttons.
No funnel? Roll a piece of paper into a cone.

What to do

Sit at a table with the bottle, rice, funnel and decorations in reach.
Pour in a small handful of rice, enough to fill about a quarter of the bottle.
Ask the helper to glue the lid shut, then wrap tape firmly over it.
Decorate the outside with tape, paper or stickers, one piece at a time, while the glue dries.
Leave the shaker to dry fully, overnight if possible, and check the lid is firm.
Next time, play a song and hold the shaker so it is easy to move.
Shake gently in time with the beat, then try a slower shake.
Set the shaker down and store it out of reach of anyone who puts things in their mouth.

It is okay to stop or change it

It is fine to stop after the first shake, or before the decoration is finished. Put the shaker on the shelf and finish it another day.

Make it easier or different

Make it easier: The helper fills, seals and decorates the bottle beforehand. The only job is to shake it along to a song and say which tempo they like.
Less to see, hear or touch: Put in only a few grains, so the sound is soft. Hold the sealed shaker on the lap and feel its weight and gentle movement.
With children: A child chooses the decorations and presses the tape down, while the older adult fills the bottle with rice and picks the song.

Safety

Glue the lid shut and tape over it, then check the lid before each use. Replace the shaker if the lid loosens or the bottle cracks.
Never make or use this with someone who puts things in their mouth. Keep the shaker away from anyone who may chew or swallow small grains.
Fill with dried rice only. Do not add small beads, coins, buttons or other small items, which can be swallowed.
Sweep up spilled rice at once, because loose grains on the floor are a slip hazard.

These are practical suggestions, not medical advice. You know the person best.

A sealed shaker turns a favorite song into something to hold and move with. The helper does the sealing, but making and decorating can be shared. Keep it sealed and check it often, so the rice stays where it belongs.