As I’ve stated in some of my posts, children [and adults] respond to music with enthusiasm, and hospital clowning allows for lots of participation by them. It’s always nice to be able to give them an “instrument” to facilitate this...on a budget!
In one of my earliest posts, Simple Rhythm, I explained how to make a shaker that you can give away using items available at most dollar stores. In this post you’ll see how to make a simpler shaker using materials you may already have on hand.
Materials needed:
a toilet paper tube (or cut a paper towel tube), a handful of small buttons, a piece of decorative wrapping paper, tape and two of each of the following: pieces of aluminum foil, masking tape, twist ties (and maybe some pretty ribbons)
1. Cover one end of the tube with aluminum foil; secure with tape. Add a piece of masking tape across the foil to prevent tearing.
2. Slide the buttons into the open end of the tube.
3. Cover the open end of the tube the same way as in Step 1.
4. Roll the tube in the middle of wrapping paper, making sure the paper is longer than the tube.
5. Secure with tape.
6. Close off both ends, making it look like a Christmas cracker or candy. Secure with twist ties.
7. Add decorative ribbons if desired.
Lucy E. Nunez has been a theatrical performer since 2002 and an improv performer since 2003. She created Nurse Lulu for the Big Apple Circus Clown Care program in 2014. She is now Baptist Children's Hospital first-ever resident clown! For more information please visit: www.sunnybearbuds.wix.com/buds