Children enjoy playing musical instruments, which can help teach them rhythm, visualising patterns and can even improve mathematical abilities. To make your child's enjoyment of music even more exciting, you can show them how they can make a simple musical instrument--such as a harp--out of ordinary items that would normally be thrown out as junk.

Remove the lid from a shoebox, and discard it.

Cut out a 6-inch hole in the bottom of the shoebox.

Paint the entire box with acrylic paint.

Allow the shoebox to dry completely.

Stretch six thick rubber bands around the box lengthwise. Space the rubber bands out so they are each about 1/2-inch apart.

  • Children enjoy playing musical instruments, which can help teach them rhythm, visualising patterns and can even improve mathematical abilities.
  • Space the rubber bands out so they are each about 1/2-inch apart.

Pluck or strum your junk harp.