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)

Threading board

Easy to make and play at home – Threading activity for 2-year-olds – Have fun using little fingers while boosting concentration and thinking skills!

Threading board

Boost focus and thinking skills while having fun! Introducing the Threading Board.

You will need cardboard, a pen, embroidery thread, an ear pick, and tape.

To make it, punch 49 holes in the cardboard arranged in a 7-by-7 grid, then tape the embroidery thread to the end of the ear pick—done! It’s a great activity that uses fine motor skills and encourages concentration.

While playing, make sure the ear pick doesn’t hit other children or fragile objects, and have a parent or teacher supervise nearby.

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

Handmade musical instruments

[2-year-olds] Musical instrument play ♬

Handmade musical instruments

Let’s have fun making sounds and playing! Here are some ideas for homemade instruments.

Try playing while getting familiar with music using DIY drums, maracas, and castanets.

You can make instruments like drums, maracas, and castanets using paper plates and paper cups, and by freely decorating them with stickers and pens, you’ll nurture children’s creativity.

As they make sounds and keep the beat, they can experience the joy of playing along with music, which also helps develop fine motor skills and a sense of rhythm.

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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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A norimaki toy you can play with in many ways

Endless ways to play! Sushi roll toy♪ Easy to make by hand 😊 #EducationalToys #DIYToys #Parenting #Childcare

A norimaki toy you can play with in many ways

It makes sounds and it’s fun! Here’s a nori-maki themed toy you can play with in many ways.

You’ll need plastic bottle caps, small beans like azuki, felt, double-sided fabric tape, and scissors.

To make it, put the beans between two bottle caps, then wrap felt around them using the double-sided fabric tape.

Attach “rice” felt and “filling” felt to the top and bottom, and it’s done.

You can enjoy lots of play: tic-tac-toe, sound play, pretend cooking, “posting” drops, stacking them high, lining them up, and more!

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Ball fishing

@yuka_asobi28
Let’s have fun strengthening your core and improve how easily you get tired! 🤭🌟# developmental support (ryōiku)#AtHomePlay #Indoor Play Physical play (exercise)2 years old Core training
♬ familie – Mrs. GREEN APPLE

Here’s a ball-fishing game that helps build both concentration and body awareness.

Wrap transparent tape around the tip of a pool noodle with the sticky side facing outward.

Use the sticky tip to pick up scattered colored balls one by one.

It can be fun to set a time limit and see who can collect the most balls the fastest.

If the pool noodle is too long, cut it to match the child’s height to make it easier to use.

Give it a try!

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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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