Water drums for kids

My 3-year-old is pretty deep into music -- listening to it, playing instruments, talking about songs, etc. Sometimes it's hard to get him away from his djembe and into the bathtub. My wife found Tub Tunes Water Drums and they are a huge, er, hit with my son. The idea is simple. The plastic drums float on the surface of the water and you can vary the pitch by raising or lowering the water level inside them. The tone is pretty terrific too. They're only $12 to buy on Amazon (or you could probably make your own pretty easily). One caveat: Last night, my son said, "They work even if I'm not in the bath." Indeed.
Tub Tunes Water Drums

[#1 posted by freejack, June 23, 2009 3:32 PM]

My 4-year-old loves those things. He's been pounding on them for probably a couple years now and they've held up quite well. I think we'll get him the water flutes next.

[#2 posted by nanner, June 23, 2009 4:02 PM]

Son is 8 now, got them when he was i dunno, 2 or 3. Helped get him in the tub :) they were fun.

[#3 posted by schilsound, June 23, 2009 7:00 PM]

Our 14 m.o. daughter loved to use them as floating chew toys.

Perhaps we'll reintroduce them after teething. . . ?

[#4 posted by eattrn, June 23, 2009 8:49 PM]

They didn't have these when my kids were little but they used tupperware much the same way.

[#5 posted by Hans Davies, June 23, 2009 11:53 PM]

These are so fun! I want some!

[#6 posted by Pantograph, June 24, 2009 12:35 AM]

I'm not entirely of the "seen but not heard" school, but I feel that the last thing the little monsters need is something to make even more noise.

[#7 posted by The Rinser, June 24, 2009 12:56 AM]

I grew up with Milo tin drums - not so good in the bath, though.

[#8 posted by kraftymiles, June 24, 2009 2:23 AM]

WE have the whistles that they make
Cuckoo Alex Tub Tunes Water Flutes
Which you can alter the note they make by adding or removing bath water. Now if I could only get The Boy to stop drinking the bath water I'd be fine.

[#9 posted by Anonymous, June 24, 2009 6:03 AM]

Bought these for my niece three years ago, and they were a big hit.

[#10 posted by toy.geek, June 24, 2009 8:15 AM]

These drums are great, and kids love to change the sound that they make.

If you're looking to save a little, Arsa Toys sells these for $9.43. and they also have a water xylophone for sale ($11.70).

[#11 posted by EMJ, June 24, 2009 10:22 AM]

More plastic for insatiable, affluent kids "needs"

[#12 posted by Takuan, June 24, 2009 10:30 AM]

then make a stoneware set

[#13 posted by Takuan, June 24, 2009 10:35 AM]

or perhaps some friends?
http://www.3worlds.co.uk/Gallery-1-Drum/Unfinished-Skull-Drum-05.jpg

[#14 posted by nimbupani, June 28, 2009 8:17 PM]

There is actually a South Indian Carnatic set of instruments called jalatharangam which you play by tapping a stick on a set of bowls of different sizes filled with water. http://biglemoi.free.fr/Pages/Jalatharangam-ENG.html