Desk Bells vs. Handbells vs. Boomwhackers: Which Is Best for Kids?

If you've typed "handbells for kids" into a search bar, you're in good company. That's what most parents search for. It's what I would have searched for too, before I spent years teaching preschool music with a table full of bells and a room full of three-year-olds.

Here's the thing. Handbells, deskbells and Boomwhackers all play real, tuned notes. They're all colorful. But they play VERY differently, and that changes what your child can actually do with them. So let's walk through each one the way a teacher would, with the good, the not-so-good and who each one is really for.

What's the difference between deskbells, handbells and Boomwhackers?

Deskbells

Deskbells (some people write it as two words, "desk bells") sit on a table. Each bell has a button on top. Press it, and a little hammer inside strikes the bell. Most kids' sets have eight bells, one for each note of the C major scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B and high C. Many deskbells can also be picked up and rung by hand.

Handbells

Hand bells have a handle. You pick one up, flick your wrist, and a clapper inside rings the bell. Toy sets usually come as eight bells in C major. School and church sets come in bigger ranges. Some sets, like KidsPlay's handbell and deskbell combo sets, can be rung either way.

Boomwhackers

Boomwhackers are hollow plastic tubes, each cut to a length that plays one note. Tap one on your hand, your leg or the floor, and it sounds its pitch. They were invented in the 1990s and are made today by Rhythm Band Instruments. The basic set is eight tubes in C major.

Deskbells vs. handbells vs. Boomwhackers: side by side

	Deskbells	Handbells	Boomwhackers
How you play it	Press the button on top (most can also be rung by hand)	Pick it up, ring it, put it down	Tap the tube on a hand, leg, floor or table
How many notes one child can play	All eight, and more than two at once (melodies and simple chords)	One or two, one in each hand	One or two, one in each hand
Best age	About 2 to 10	Toy sets are often labeled 3 and up; handbell choirs suit older kids	Toddlers through adults
Works for group play	Good. Share a set around a table, or give each child a few bells	Excellent. Built for groups where everyone owns a note	Excellent. Hand out one tube per child
Tuning and quality	Metal bells that hold their pitch; quality varies by brand	Varies a lot. Budget toy sets can be off pitch; music-education brands are more reliable	Pitch is set by the tube's length, so it stays put
Rough price (8 notes)	About $60 (KidsPlay deskbells) to $99 (Prodigies C Major Deskbells)	About $15 to $20 for budget toy sets; about $45 to $60 for KidsPlay handbells	About $25 to $45
Noise	Loud and bright, especially on a hard table	Loud and ringing, and it adds up fast with a group	Medium. A hollow "boom," not a ring

Prices are rough and change often, so check before you buy.

Why I usually pick deskbells for one child at home

I'll be upfront: I'm biased. Deskbells are my favorite instrument for young kids, and we built our whole program around them. But here's why, in plain teacher terms.

• You can hit them easily. A tap on the button is all it takes. No wrist flick, no special grip. Little hands get a clean, clear note on the first try.
• You don't need to pick them up and put them down. With handbells, every note is a pick up, a ring and a set down. That's a lot of juggling, and the song falls apart in the middle. Deskbells just stay put.
• One child can play more than two notes at once. With handbells, each kid usually holds one or two. With deskbells lined up in a row, one child can play a whole melody alone, and even a chord, like C, E and G together.

That last one matters more than it sounds. Handbells are like a relay race. Each runner carries the baton for one stretch, then hands it off. Deskbells are more like riding a bike. One kid does the whole ride and feels the whole song.

When handbells are the better choice

Handbells are wonderful. Really. Here's when I'd reach for them:

• Group ringing. In a classroom, church or homeschool co-op, giving each child one bell is the whole point. Kids learn to listen, wait and ring right on time. That's real ensemble skill.
• Kids who want to move. Ringing with your whole arm is more physical than pressing a button, and some kids love that.
• Big family nights. Grandma rings G, your toddler rings C, and everybody's in the band.

Just know that a single child at home will hit the "only two hands" wall pretty quickly.

When Boomwhackers are the better choice

I love Boomwhackers. We even wrote a whole Boomwhackers for kids guide with free songs and activities. Pick them when:

• Budget matters. An 8-note set is one of the least expensive real-pitch instruments you can buy.
• You want rhythm and movement. Steady beat, marching, call and response. Boomwhackers are made for it.
• Durability matters. They get dropped, stepped on and sat on. They survive.

The trade-off? Like handbells, it's one or two notes per child. And yes... they will become lightsabers. Plan for it.

What about the noise?

Honest answer: deskbells are loud. They're metal bells, after all, and a hard wooden table makes them even louder. A folded towel underneath helps, and I wrote up a simple felt trick for making the bells quieter. Handbells ring just as much. Boomwhackers are the gentlest on grown-up ears, as long as nobody is bonking a sibling.

Color matters more than shape

Whatever bells you choose, check the colors. Young kids read colors long before they read notes. In the Prodigies color system, every note has its own color: C is red, D is orange, E is yellow, F is green, G is teal, A is purple and B is pink. Our deskbells, sheet music and video lessons all use those same colors, and so do Boomwhackers. A child who sees a red note in a lesson knows to play the red bell. No reading required.

Different brands use different color schemes, though. When the bells and the songbook don't match, kids get confused fast. So pick bells that match the songs you'll actually play.

So which one should you buy?

• One child learning songs at home: deskbells.
• A group, class or choir: handbells or Boomwhackers.
• A tight budget or a kid who can't sit still: Boomwhackers.
• Room to grow: deskbells or Boomwhackers, since both have add-on sets with sharps and flats.

If you go the deskbell route, our Prodigies C Major Deskbells are the eight-note set we use in every lesson, and you can see the add-on sets in our deskbells collection. If you go another way, that's okay too. The best instrument is the one your child actually plays.

Frequently asked questions

Are deskbells or handbells better for toddlers?

Deskbells are usually the best bells for toddlers. Pressing a button is easier than ringing a bell by its handle, and the bells stay put on the table instead of rolling away. Handbells can work too, especially chunky toy sets, but expect a lot more dropping. Always stay close when little ones play with any instrument.

Can one child play handbells alone?

Yes, but only one or two notes at a time, one in each hand. To play a full song alone, a child has to keep picking up and putting down bells, which is hard for young kids. That's why deskbells are easier for solo play.

Are Boomwhackers the same as bells?

No. Boomwhackers are tuned plastic tubes that you tap on a surface. They play real notes like bells do, but the sound is a hollow "boom" instead of a ring. They use the same note colors as Prodigies bells, so they work with the same songs.

How many notes does my child need to start?

Eight is plenty. A C major set (C, D, E, F, G, A, B and high C) plays hundreds of kids' songs. You can add sharps and flats later with a chromatic set when your child is ready.

Can you mix Boomwhackers and deskbells?

Yes. Prodigies deskbells use the same colors as Boomwhackers, so a red Boomwhacker and a red deskbell are both C. Mixing them is a great way for siblings, cousins or a whole class to play the same song together.