Make it with everyday materials! A collection of DIY toy ideas recommended for 1-year-olds
One-year-olds are curious about everything! Homemade toys are perfect for nurturing that curiosity.
You can make them with familiar materials you already have at home, and adapt how they’re used to suit your child’s development.
Using items like plastic bottles, milk cartons, and fabric, you can create everything from toys that promote finger dexterity to cleverly designed, interactive playthings.
Here, we’ll introduce ideas for handmade toys that one-year-olds will be eager to play with.
Enjoy making safe, fun toys that are easy to incorporate into childcare settings, too!
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Handmade toys to promote finger development (1–10)
Puzzle
How about making a handmade puzzle that’s perfect for little one-year-old fingers? Just glue wood slices onto felt or thick paper and it turns into a lovely toy.
If you prepare wooden pieces in different sizes, children can play by arranging them into shapes that match their interests.
Leave it in the classroom and they might pick it up and start playing on their own.
Spend time playing together and nurture their rich imaginations.
Since it uses natural materials, it’s budget-friendly and recommended for teachers too.
A toy that’s fun to take out and put away
Kids around one year old love the action of putting things in and taking them out, don’t they? Let’s make the perfect toy for them! First, cut a hole in the lower part of a 2-liter plastic bottle that’s big enough for a ball to pass through, and reinforce the edges with vinyl tape for safety.
Then cut off the bottom of the bottle.
Next, take a laundry net without a zipper and cut off the lower third.
Tape the cut section to the bottom of the bottle you just removed, and it’s done.
Pop balls or any favorite items in through the hole, and when you want to take them out, open the zipper on the bottom net to release them.
It’s a toy they can play with over and over, so they’ll be totally absorbed!
tug play
The string-pulling game is great for promoting the development of 1-year-olds’ hand and finger skills! By preparing strings of various colors and lengths, you can keep children interested and focused on play.
First, prepare a flat piece of cardboard and poke holes where the strings will go.
Reinforce the edges of the cardboard with vinyl tape.
After threading the strings through the holes, tie both ends so they won’t come out.
Finally, decorate by attaching illustrations to the cardboard, and it’s done! It’ll be fun to see how the children react as they play.
Handmade Toys to Promote Finger Development (11–20)
Straw Drop
The straw drop is a toy that keeps one-year-olds happily absorbed.
While you can make a container yourself, using a straw jar sold at 100-yen shops saves time.
Remove the straw and gasket from the jar, then cut straws to a length that’s easy to drop into the jar.
Use about ten as a guide and adjust the number to suit how the children play.
Watching them drop the straws inside is adorable, so keep it within easy reach so they can play with it often.
ring wave
Let me show you how to make a spinning ring wave.
Please prepare a water bottle, aluminum wire, pliers, glue, and a colorful chain.
Wrap the wire around a felt-tip pen to create the spiraling part.
The way you wrap it will determine how the colorful chain moves inside! Next, attach the wire to a round piece of paper, thread the colorful chain through it, and attach a perforated cap on the other side.
Adjust it to the height of the water bottle, attach it to the inside of the bottle cap, and place it inside to finish.
Watching the colorful chain fall through the wire is really fascinating!
chain drop
Let’s make a toy called a “chain dropper” using a milk powder can! It’s very easy to make.
Attach the parts of Anpanman’s face to the lid of the can, then cut out the mouth area with a utility knife.
After that, secure the lid with tape so it won’t come off, and just put the chain inside! Little kids love putting things into small holes like this—and they love pulling them out, too! It’s a simple toy, but it’s a classic favorite among children.
Give it a try!
Infinite Tissues
Here’s how to make “endless tissues” so kids can have lots of fun with their favorite tissue box.
First, prepare a kitchen cloth (nonwoven dish cloth) and an empty tissue box.
The method is very simple: tie the kitchen cloths together one by one to make a long chain.
Once they’re all connected, place the chain inside the tissue box—and you’re done! Because it’s made with sturdy kitchen cloths, it will last a long time, and kids are sure to be totally absorbed in playing with it.
Give it a try!