World Cup Soccer Shakers

Like it or not, you will shortly be immersed in World Cup insanity, and it’s always more fun to play along. I’ve never been a soccer fan, but something mysterious happened to me during the 2006 World Cup, and before I knew it my kids were covered in tattoos, and I had a flag hanging off my car for the duration of the games. I’ve had four years to recover from this out of character behaviour, and I think I’m ready to embrace the insanity again. If you happen to be a parent of young soccer loving children, these customized shakers will add to their fun and help them cheer on their chosen team. It is, after all, the most popular sport in the world. Cheers!

Materials

• film canisters
• rice, beans, lentils…anything that will make noise when shaken
• coloured popsicle sticks
• white glue
• flag stickers
• wire tinsel decorations (optional)

While film canisters are quietly going the way of the dodo, there are still a few kicking around at camera shops or wherever prints are made. I was handed a box of them at my local grocery store (Loblaws) free of charge. It seems they were only too happy to recycle them. The wire tinsel decorations were found at a dollar store, and the flag stickers at a little shop in Toronto’s Kensington Market. If you have difficulty finding flag stickers, you can always draw the flag on paper, cut it out and glue it onto the canister.

Instructions

1. Fill your film canister one third of the way with something like rice which, when shaken, will make noise.

2. Put a small amount of white glue on the inside rim of the lid, and press it on.

3. Have an adult cut a small slit with a knife in the middle of the lid. Insert the popsicle stick.

4. Place your flag sticker on the outside of your canister, and if using the tinsel, wrap some around the popsicle stick where it meets the canister. You’re now ready to cheer on your favorite team. Good luck!

Websites:

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

Books:

Kids’ Book of Soccer by Brooks Clark

The Everything Kids’ Soccer Book by Deborah Crisfield

The World Is A Ball by John Doyle

World Cup of Soccer: The Complete Guide by Chris Hunt