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Three Methods:Turning Preparation Into a Joint ActivityCreating the XylophoneMaking Music

Whoever said that children needed high tech toys and games to have fun has yet to play with a DIY rainbow xylophone. This old school method of toy creation will have your tot moving and grooving in no time and all you’ll need is water, food coloring and a few glasses.

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EditMethod 1 of 3: Turning Preparation Into a Joint Activity

  1. Create a Rainbow Xylophone Step 4.jpg
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    Invite your child to help you design the xylophone. Although pinging on glasses is fun, creating the xylophone is just as thrilling for small children. Make sure you explain what you are about to do so that he or she understands what you hope to achieve.
    • Detail and list exactly what you plan to do to create the xylophone. Explain that when the glasses are filled with water at different levels, each glass will make a different sound.
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  2. Create a Rainbow Xylophone Step 4Bullet1.jpg
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    Dress your child in play clothes in case the colored water spills on him or her. While most food coloring shouldn’t stain, it's best not to tempt fate on your child's best clothes.

EditMethod 2 of 3: Creating the Xylophone

  1. Create a Rainbow Xylophone Step 5.jpg
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    Line the glasses up on a flat surface. Have them almost touching each other so that your child can make music with ease.
  2. Create a Rainbow Xylophone Step 6.jpg
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    Fill a plastic pitcher with water. Bring it to the line of glasses. Explain to your child how you will fill the first glass almost to the top, the next one a little lower, the following glass a little lower, and so on.
  3. Create a Rainbow Xylophone Step 7.jpg
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    Fill each glass with descending levels of liquid. Allow your child to hold the glass in place to help. Find ways to engage and include your child throughout the process.
  4. Create a Rainbow Xylophone Step 8.jpg
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    Add a few drops of food coloring to each cup. Ask your child which colors will make purple? Depending on your child’s age, allow the child to add drops of color to the glass to reveal the color.

EditMethod 3 of 3: Making Music

  1. Create a Rainbow Xylophone Step 9.jpg
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    Give the child a wooden spoon or chopstick for playing the tunes. Explain how different water levels will produce a different sound.
  2. Create a Rainbow Xylophone Step 10.jpg
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    Encourage your child to tap the sides of each glass to hear the different pitches and noises. Provide enough freedom for your child to experiment with different sound combinations.
  3. Create a Rainbow Xylophone Step 11.jpg
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    Ask your child questions during the exercise. Ask things such as "What will happen if you tap the glass at the top instead of at the bottom?" Or, "Which glass has a lower pitch? Why do you think the water level makes a difference?"
  4. Create a Rainbow Xylophone Intro.jpg
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    Finished. Allow free play time, without questions or hovering. See what music your child feels free to unleash!
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EditTips

  • So you don’t have to worry about sharing (if you are entertaining multiple children), make sure each child has his or her own “instrument.”
  • Do this activity in the kitchen, outside or in an uncarpeted area of your home.
  • Allow your child to mix up the glass order to achieve a different sound pattern.
  • Keep paper towels nearby to clean up any spills.
  • You can mix colors to create hues like blue or green if necessary.
  • If doing this activity with very young children, consider using hard plastic glasses to be on the safe side. While you won’t achieve the same level of ping with plastic, glass may be too hazardous for young musicians.

EditWarnings

  • Keep a watchful eye on young children. If they're left to their own devices and a glass breaks, they need to be quickly removed from the area of the broken glass while you clear it up.
  • Play the rainbow xylophone over a surface where spills won't matter. If the child plays boisterously and glass topples over, then the stain won't matter.

EditThings You'll Need

  • 6 drinking glasses, of sturdy quality

    Create a Rainbow Xylophone Step 1.jpg
  • Food coloring bottles - to create a “rainbow” of colors, you’ll need purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red.

    Create a Rainbow Xylophone Step 2.jpg
  • Enough wooden spoons or chopsticks for each tiny musician

    Create a Rainbow Xylophone Step 3.jpg

Article Info

Featured Article

Categories: Featured Articles | Music

Recent edits by: sadhyan nair, June, Flickety

In other languages:

Русский: сделать радужный ксилофон

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