Lovely childcare

Toddler-approved fun! DIY toy ideas for 2-year-olds

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.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

At around age two, as a sense of self begins to emerge, children start to assert themselves clearly.

Their curiosity and desire to say “I want to try!” become stronger, which expands their range of activities.

They can also perform finer finger movements, widening the kinds of play they enjoy.

It’s wonderful to support their physical and emotional development through lots of play.

With that in mind, here are some recommended handmade toys for two-year-olds.

From toys that use the fingers, to sound-making items, to things perfect for pretend play—this collection is packed with handmade toy ideas that two-year-olds will be captivated by.

Find the ones that best fit your child’s stage of growth and give making them a try.

Toddlers Will Love It! Handmade Toy Ideas (21–30)

wriggly caterpillar

Let's make a wiggly caterpillar! #nurseryTeacher #TheVeryHungryCaterpillar #handmadeToy #nurseryTeacher #Shorts

wriggly caterpillar

The movements are so cute! Let me introduce the Wiggly Caterpillar.

You will need 10 plastic bottle caps, a straw, an awl, scissors, a hot glue gun, a popsicle stick, and construction paper.

To make it, poke holes in the bottle caps with the awl, then thread them onto string, alternating with pieces of straw cut to 1.5 cm wide.

Use the hot glue gun to attach popsicle sticks to the bottle caps at both ends, and finish by adding the caterpillar’s face made from construction paper.

It’s also adorable if you add little legs!

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Handmade maracas

[Handmade Instruments] Make Maracas with Things at Home: A Fun Activity to Do with Your Kids

Handmade maracas

Here’s an introduction to easy, handmade maracas you can make with everyday materials.

Gather a capsule toy case, a toilet paper roll, a plastic bottle, beads or buttons, and vinyl tape, and let’s get started.

Cut off the neck portion of the plastic bottle, roll the toilet paper core to make a sturdy handle, and attach it securely with vinyl tape.

Put the buttons or beads inside the capsule toy case, fasten it firmly with vinyl tape, and close the lid.

Once it’s finished, shake your maracas, sing along, and have fun!

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Toddlers Will Love It! Handmade Toy Ideas (31–40)

Pretend Play with a Smartphone [Ages 2 and Up]

Role-play fun is in full swing! A smartphone made from cardboard

Pretend Play with a Smartphone [Ages 2 and Up]

For children, a smartphone or computer is probably one of those things they want to have.

Let’s make a smartphone that looks real and use it for pretend play.

First, cut three pieces of cardboard to smartphone size, glue them together to add thickness, and let them dry.

Once dry, round off the corners and draw the screen frame.

To make it look like it’s in a case, you can glue wrapping paper to the back, and for the front screen, draw your favorite picture or attach a photo to give it an even more realistic finish.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Playing with empty boxes

[For 2-year-olds] Playing with empty boxes!

Playing with empty boxes

Let’s make the most of scrap materials and play freely! Here are some ideas for playing with empty boxes.

It’s a wonderful activity to enjoy with two-year-olds while bringing out their creativity.

You can add dividers to a box to roll small balls through it, or stack and line up boxes to make tunnels to play with.

Children will expand their own imaginations and come up with many ways to use the boxes.

Through this activity, they can develop fine motor skills and spatial awareness, while enriching their creativity!

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maracas microphone

[4-year-olds] Looks just like the real thing?! Handmade microphone!

maracas microphone

Let’s make a realistic-looking microphone using a plastic wrap core! You’ll use half of a core, so please cut it in advance.

First, glue origami paper onto the wrap core, and on the side where the paper overhangs, tape a short piece of yarn to the inside of the core.

Then crumple the excess origami paper and push it inward to form a rounded shape.

Finally, tape a capsule toy container to the opposite end to complete your microphone! It’s also cute if you put beads inside the container so it makes a sound.

Enjoy karaoke at home with your very own mic!

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Making houses out of thick paper (cardstock)

100-yen store DIY: A cardboard dollhouse — Princess Castle. How to make a dollhouse

Making houses out of thick paper (cardstock)

Here’s a guide to making an adorable cardboard house.

Use a ruler to sketch the house’s dimensions on the cardboard.

Carefully cut along the guidelines with scissors or a craft knife.

Add color to the cardboard using construction paper.

Cutting the construction paper with scissors is recommended, but tearing and pasting pieces might add a charming, handmade feel to the work as well.

Use glue to attach the parts and assemble them so they don’t fall apart.

Once you add the final decorations, your cute dollhouse is complete.

If you like, adding sparkly stickers or beads can make it even more charming!

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Toy stethoscope for playing doctor

When you want to play doctor, make a toy stethoscope and get into character! For this one, you’ll use a headband you can find at a 100-yen shop.

Cover the headband with a tube of sewn felt, so if it has any decorations, remove them first.

For the tubing, use a string or cord, and for the chest piece, cover a suitably sized cap or lid with felt.

Once you’ve connected everything, your stethoscope is ready! It might be even more fun if you also make items like a medicine bag or bandages.

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