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Make · Wild and Tumble activity

Branch rattle

Shake, shake, jingle! Thread bottle tops onto a forked branch to make a rattle.

  • 20 min total
  • Low mess
  • Ages 3–5*
  • Indoors or out
  • Any season
Let's do this

*Illustrative age guidance. Your child's development and circumstances matter more than a number.

A tiny plan for your day

Estimated time: 5 min to gather · 12 min to make · 3 min to play. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • A Y-shaped stick
  • Metal bottle tops with a hole poked in the middle by an adult
  • Wire or strong string

Let's begin

Five simple steps

That's the whole activity. Tick each step off as you go, and stop whenever you like.

  1. Find a sturdy Y-shaped stick.

  2. Grown-up job

    An adult threads bottle tops onto a piece of wire.

  3. Stretch the wire between the two arms of the Y and twist the ends tight.

  4. Shake it! What does it sound like?

  5. Play along to a favourite song.

All done!

That's every step. However it went, you made a little moment together.

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