There are many simple musical instruments that children can make cheaply from the ingredients in your cupboard. They can provide hours of entertainment and help your children stretch their creative skills:

• Maracas can be made by adding dry beans, rice or pasta to plastic bottles.

• A xylophone can be made by half filling jam jars and milk bottles with water and playing with a spoon.

• Drums can be created by placing saucepans upside down and using wooden spoons or chopsticks to beat