Milk Jug Shaker Toddler Activity - A Sensory and Fine Motor Experience

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Are you looking for an easy and fun activity that will keep your toddler having fun?  

I’m always looking for things to do around the house with my twin toddlers that we already have- and that is just plain simple, super easy, and of course fun for any toddler! 

That’s where we came up with this Toddler Milk Jug Shaker Activity.

Sometimes it’s fun to go out and buy things at the dollar store or craft store and have fun projects to do with the kids, but that takes planning and time.  Things which I am usually limited on since my two-year-old twins keep me so busy during the day. 

But this milk jug shaker is totally free and probably something you already have in your recycling bin.

We go through so much milk in our house, I cannot even believe it myself.  We always have milk jugs laying around (overfilling our recycling bin).

These milk jugs are perfect for nature walks or playing out in the yard.

Bring a milk jug when you go on a nature walk with your toddler or child.  They can easily carry it and fill it up with things as they are walking.  They can fill it with rocks, sticks, flowers, etc. 

There’s also no prep for this activity which I love and is the best part for me. You just wash out the milk jug (you need the plastic ones, not paper carton ones) and start finding things to fill it with!  

This is also good for finding things in the house to fill it up with if you can’t get outside.

My boys and I fill it with things we already have around the house.  It’s so convenient and you can gear it towards things your toddler is interested in. 

The possibilities are endless to fill it up with- as long as it fits in the jug and is safe for your toddler!

There are so many learning experiences involved in these milk jug shakers, but to the boys, it’s all just play!  

Materials For Milk Jug Shaker Activity:

• Half gallon plastic milk jug (the handle makes it nice and easy to carry around for toddlers)
• Materials to put in (I’ve listed ideas below)

Setting Up the Milk Jug Shaker Activity:

Just wash out an empty half-gallon milk jug (or how many ever you have and want to use).

For a younger baby or toddler, you could help them fill the milk jug with objects to make a shaker and have them shake it. I’ve listed some ideas below, but you can be really creative with this and gear it towards what your toddler or baby likes and have them shake it.  

For an older toddler, you could show them first what to do, and then have them fill it on their own.  You could provide things for them to fill it with, or let them go on a little hunt around the house or yard and fill it themselves.

 Ideas for objects that your toddler or you could use to fill the milk jugs:

• Rocks and twigs- great outdoor activity- my boys favorite
• Rice- excellent for fine motor
• Beans- excellent for fine motor
• Water- great for sound
• Nuts and bolts- great activity if hanging out in the garage (like my twins do with their dad)
• Soft items- pom-poms, cotton balls, q-tips (anything else you have laying around the house)
• Beads
• Cereal or baby puffs (good if your toddler puts everything in their mouth)

You’re Toddler Will Be Learning:

• Hand-eye-coordination
• Practicing fine motor skills
• Difference between big and small (long and short, too)
• Problem Solving (They will have to figure out which objects fit, and which ones don’t)
• This is also a wonderful sensory experience from picking up the objects (touch) and shaking the jug (sound)
• Learning that soft objects make little to no sound, and harder objects make a louder noise

This is an activity that keeps my twin toddlers engaged and busy. 

It’s perfect for twins or siblings because it’s something they can do together but separately at the same time since they have their own milk jug and are putting their own objects in.

My boys also like to screw and unscrew the milk cap on and off so that was an added bonus!  Make sure you are always watching your toddler while they are doing this activity, especially since there are small pieces involved and that could pose a choking hazard.

I hope your little one(s) enjoy this fun and easy activity, just like mine did!

Make sure to always supervise your child while doing this activity, especially since there could be little pieces involved.

When will you try the Milk Jug Shaker Activity with your baby or toddler?

Related:

25 Easy Backyard Toddler Activities