Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Easy to make! Handmade toys that delight 0-year-olds

[Childcare] Easy to make! Handmade toys that delight 0-year-olds

Last updated:2025/4/28

9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

As the months go by, a 0-year-old baby steadily grows and can do more and more.

Each little milestone is joyful and incredibly precious.

Many people may be thinking, “I want to make handmade toys” that match their baby’s development and interests.

So this time, we’re introducing handmade toy ideas that are perfect for babies under one.

These toys are packed with ideas that babies can look at, listen to, touch, and play with in fascination!

They’re all easy to make using familiar recyclables or materials from the 100-yen shop, so be sure to find something your baby will love and give it a try.

[Childcare] Easy to make! Handmade toys that delight 0-year-olds (1–10)

sensory bag

Work No. 007 Sensory Bag (Basic Edition) [Handmade Toy by a Nursery Teacher]

sensory bag

How about a sensory bag as an item to stimulate the five senses? This is made by putting liquid and beads into a transparent bag.

If you’re making one yourself, use a Ziploc bag and fill it with liquid laundry starch (or school glue gel), beads, buttons, and so on.

However, if you make it incorrectly, the liquid starch may leak, so be sure to check detailed instructions first.

Its curious texture and sparkling look are sure to get your baby excited.

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plastic bottle maracas

[Handmade Toy] How to Make a Wobbly Rattle: Maracas, Pro Tips from a Nursery Teacher — An Easy Baby Toy Anyone Can Make; A Must-See for Childcare Workers and Great for Infant Care

plastic bottle maracas

Here’s a fun idea for a PET bottle maraca that’s delightful both to look at and to listen to.

Use a 250 ml plastic bottle, hang a chain-style charm inside it, and add beads to create the maraca.

The charm sways and catches the eye, and when you shake it, it makes sound—making it even more engaging.

All the materials besides the bottle can be found at a 100-yen shop, so it’s easy to try.

You can also add other items like small bells for an interesting variation.

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pull-along toy

[Handmade Toy] “Pull Toy”

pull-along toy

Some gacha capsules come with a type that has four holes.

How about using one of those to make a pull toy? For this, thread a string into one hole of the capsule, bring it out through another hole, and tie it off.

This creates a toy where pulling one string makes the string in another hole get shorter.

That way, you can enjoy the pulling action while playing, without worrying about the string getting tangled somewhere.

You can also put beads inside the capsule to enjoy the sound as well.

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drop-in box toy

Handmade and Easy: Animal Pot-Through Drop

drop-in box toy

Shall we try making a “potton drop” toy? A potton drop is a toy where you put objects into holes, similar to a shape-sorting puzzle.

First, prepare an empty box and stick on animals made from construction paper.

Then cut out the mouth area of each animal.

For the pieces to drop in, use plastic bottle caps.

It’s recommended to draw pictures of food on them.

This way, kids can not only drop the pieces but also enjoy the feeling of feeding the animals.

If you draw the foods each animal likes, you can add a puzzle-like element as well.

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busy board

[Busy Board] Let’s make an educational toy babies can play with using 100-yen shop items! [Handmade Toy]

busy board

How about trying to make a busy board, which is gaining attention as an educational toy? A busy board is a board fitted with several items that are likely to interest children.

Unlike buying a ready-made product, making one by hand lets you create an original lineup tailored to your baby’s preferences.

Start by preparing a pegboard and arranging whatever you like on it.

The key is to mix in items with unusual textures, such as sponges or a calculator.

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crinkle toy

[Stops Baby Crying] Crinkly Toy [You Can Make It with Things at Home] [Super Easy]

crinkle toy

One item that’s drawing attention for calming crying babies is the crinkle toy.

The idea is to stitch together square pieces of fabric to make a cushion-like shape and place a plastic bag inside.

The appeal is the rustling sound it makes when touched.

Using soft fabrics like gauze for the outer material may make it even more popular with babies.

Note that since there’s plastic inside, it will melt if you iron it.

Please be careful.

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milk can drum

[Milk Can Remake DIY] Make a Drum!

milk can drum

Toys that make sounds are said to be effective for early childhood development.

So how about making a drum out of a milk can? First, prepare an empty milk can you no longer need, then decorate it by attaching a faux leather sheet to the bottom and a remake sheet to the sides.

Using a wood-grain patterned remake sheet will give it a more drum-like look.

Try playing together by beating it to music and have fun.

By the way, the tension of the faux leather sheet will change the sound.

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