Lovely childcare

Let’s make it with 3-year-olds! Fun handmade toy ideas

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!

Let’s make and play with handmade toys together with your three-year-old!

Making your own toys lets children experience the joy of creating original pieces and gives them a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment—there are so many benefits.

So this time, we’ve gathered ideas for DIY toys recommended for three-year-olds.

Everything uses familiar materials and involves simple tasks with few steps, making them easy for three-year-olds to try.

Have fun drawing freely, adding decorations, and creating a one-of-a-kind special toy together.

Let’s Make It with 3-Year-Olds! Fun DIY Toy Ideas (31–40)

Fruit Concentration

These are felt cards you can use to play Concentration (Memory)! You can choose any motifs you like—fruits, vehicles, animals, anything is fine.

However, since Concentration is a game where you match pairs of identical cards, be sure to make two cards of each design.

Cut felt into card shapes and either glue or sew the motifs onto them.

If you’re making everything out of felt, it’s efficient to layer the same fabric and cut two identical pieces at once to save time.

If you want to keep things simple, you could also use store-bought appliqués and just stick them on.

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Handmade aluminum balloon

https://www.tiktok.com/@mumumama_ch/video/7470453610678127890

Let’s have fun with aluminum foil! Here are some ideas for making DIY aluminum balloons.

Aluminum foil is commonly used for cooking and storage, right? This time, let’s use the aluminum foil you have at home to make handmade aluminum balloons.

You’ll need aluminum foil, a pen, a round template, stickers, scissors, laminating sheets, tape, and a stick such as a disposable chopstick.

Draw on the aluminum foil, laminate it, then make a hole and blow air into it.

Insert the stick and secure it with tape, and you’re done!

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Fishing for fish

I made a felt fishing toy / handmade / hand-crafted / educational toy

Fishing for fish

Fishing is one of the most popular pastimes for children.

So why not try making various sea creatures out of felt? In addition to fish, kids might be delighted to have creatures you wouldn’t normally catch when fishing, like sharks, dolphins, and turtles.

If you put a material inside that sticks to a magnet, they can enjoy “catching” them with a rod that has a magnet on the end.

You can make them by layering and gluing felt, or stuff them with cotton to give them a three-dimensional shape—both are recommended.

Since they’re toys, be sure to make them colorful!

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Spinning origami

https://www.tiktok.com/@yuyu_activity/video/7278963618316569858

Toys that kids can play with year-round are always popular.

This time, we’re introducing a simple origami toy perfect for 3-year-olds! All you need is a single sheet of origami paper.

Slightly offset the paper and fold it in half into a triangle.

Starting from the bottom of the folded triangle, roll it up, then hold the middle and open it—done! It’s great for school events because kids can have fun competing to see whose stays in the air longer or travels farther.

Try drawing on it or decorating it to make your own original toy!

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Candy making

@yuu_kousaku
If you like, check out my Instagram @yuu_kousaku too♪ Thank you always for the likes and comments 😊 They really encourage me ✨ 🍬 How to make candy that 2–3-year-olds got totally hooked on 🍬 It’s simple: just wrap a pom-pom made of cellophane or a little ball of tissue! Pom-poms are a bit slippery and harder to wrap, so the difficulty is higher. At first, it’s best to wrap small balls of tissue 🍭 Have fun wrapping all sorts of things♪ [Free Candy Bag Materials] Send me a DM with “Candy Bag Check” 💕 I’d be happy if you leave a comment 😊 ————————————— On this account, an active babysitter shares budget-friendly crafts you can do at home, at-home play ideas, and early learning activities! I’d love to connect with you.work At-home play Life with children #HandmadeToys Childcare #EducationalPlay Translation Daiso 100-yen shop crafts #I love crafts #HandmadeLovingGirl #diyideasforkids #craftideasforkids
A Little Longer – YOASOBI

Recommended for kids who love cute things! Here’s a fun candy-making craft.

You’ll need colored cellophane, decorative pom-poms in various sizes, and scissors.

How to play: cut the colored cellophane into four pieces, place a pom-pom in the center, then twist it like a candy wrapper.

Increasing or varying the number and size of the pom-poms makes it more challenging, so adjust the sizes to suit the child.

After making them, you can wrap them as gifts or use them for pretend play!

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Let’s Make It with 3-Year-Olds! Fun Handmade Toy Ideas (41–50)

cake

How to make a felt cake

cake

Here’s an idea for felt cakes you can use for pretend play.

Basically, make a pattern for the cake shape you want, then cut the felt to match and sew it together.

You could make several slice-shaped shortcakes that combine into a whole cake for easier play.

Place a piece of cardboard on the bottom of each cake, then stuff it with cotton and sew it closed.

For the cream, cut the felt into a pinwheel shape and sew it so the tips gather tightly—this will make it look realistic.

After that, add your preferred toppings, like cream layers in the cross-section and strawberries!

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Simple chopstick gun

The Easiest Method: How to Make a Rubber Band Gun from Disposable Chopsticks [Handmade Toy / Craft]

Simple chopstick gun

This is a very simple chopstick rubber-band gun you can make with just two pairs of disposable chopsticks.

Clamp the tip of one chopstick set with the tip of the other and secure them with a rubber band.

At this point, use both chopsticks un-split, just as they are.

That’s actually all there is to the assembly! Then hook a rubber band onto the tip to set it, and slowly tilt the clamped chopstick diagonally like a trigger—the rubber band will launch.

Since you don’t need scissors, a cutter, glue, or anything else, it’s perfect for a craft project with small children.

Give it a try!

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