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 Handmade Toy Ideas (41–50)

mini drum

@hitomi_ins_
A taiko drum you can make in 1 minute (lol)Wadaiko (Japanese drums)#drum work
♬ original sound – yaglupaya

Make it in no time! Here’s how to create a mini drum.

You’ll need a cup, plastic wrap, and masking tape.

To make it, stretch three layers of plastic wrap over the top of the cup and secure it with masking tape.

Fix the cup to the desk with masking tape, and you’re done! Try playing it with a pen or a straw.

It’s fun to discover how the sound changes depending on the cup size! You might also hear different sounds if you change the number of plastic wrap layers.

Create your own original mini drum and enjoy playing it!

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Make It with 3-Year-Olds! Fun DIY Toy Ideas (51–60)

Making a drum with a balloon

Make an easy drum using balloons♪

Making a drum with a balloon

Let’s try making a drum using a balloon! Cut off the mouth of a balloon and stretch it over a roll of packing tape.

Secure it firmly with electrical tape, and decorate the outside however you like to finish the drum.

For the drumsticks, attach a small, tightly balled piece of tissue to the end of a chopstick and fix it with electrical tape.

Then cover it with two plastic bottle caps and secure those with electrical tape as well to complete the sticks.

Since there aren’t many steps that require scissors, lots of kids can easily enjoy both crafting and making music!

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cloth picture book

[Cloth Book] A complete, in-depth guide to making one and all interactive pages‼️ #clothbook #interactivepicturebook #pop-upbook

cloth picture book

Why not try making a fabric picture book inspired by Anpanman? Fabric books are a staple toy for babies.

They often crinkle, include features that promote finger development, and pack in all kinds of clever ideas.

Let’s try making one by hand.

With your own ideas—like a buttoning activity using Anpanman’s face, peekaboo flaps or matching games with various characters—you can create a delightful fabric book.

If you’re not confident at sewing, using felt and glue to craft it like an art project is a great recommendation!

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Infinite spin

Let’s make an “Infinite Spinner,” a toy you can keep turning round and round like an origami kaleidoscope! Prepare six paper strips from construction paper.

Using two colors with three strips each makes it look extra cute.

Overlap the ends at a 90-degree angle and glue them, then fold the papers alternately.

When the strips get short, connect the remaining strips and repeat the steps.

Once everything is connected, trim any excess with scissors.

Glue the end faces together, and you’re done! The process is very simple, so why not make one as a toy for your child?

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[Ages 3 and up] Let’s play with an air bazooka

Kids’ Easy Craft | Cardboard Air Bazooka (Fun for Children: Toddlers, Kindergarten, Daycare, Indoor Play, Popular, Cute)

[Ages 3 and up] Let's play with an air bazooka

Let’s make an air bazooka you can build right away with just a cardboard box and a paper cup.

To make it, first put a lid on a cardboard box assembled with duct tape.

A larger box is recommended because it shoots farther.

Next, turn the box so it’s taller than it is wide, and make a hole in the center of the top face that’s slightly smaller than the rim of the paper cup.

Place the paper cup over the hole, and when you slap both sides of the box at the same time with your hands, the paper cup will shoot off.

It could be fun to compete to see who can launch it the farthest.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Educational puzzle with plastic bottle caps

DIY educational toy from a 100-yen shop [for ages 2–3] #2years4months #daiso

Educational puzzle with plastic bottle caps

Let’s make a handmade educational toy using items from a 100-yen shop.

First, buy a plastic case with dividers that’s just the right size for plastic bottle caps to fit into.

In addition to plastic bottle caps, you can use caps from energy drinks or canned drinks, but be sure to cover any sharp edges with vinyl tape or similar to prevent cuts.

Prepare stickers with various pictures or photos and stick them on the bottom of each compartment.

Then, stick matching stickers on the bottle caps so they form pairs.

The game is to put each cap with the matching sticker into the compartment that has the same sticker.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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[With Cardboard] Bag Making

Craft time with a kindergarten teacher! How to make a bag [At-home play support ■ Craft series]

[With Cardboard] Bag Making

Let’s make a tote bag for pretend play using thin cardboard.

First, fold the gusset sections.

Adjust the width of the gusset to match what you’ll put inside.

If you want to add patterns, draw them at this stage.

After drawing the patterns, cut slits into the gusset parts and tape them together.

Once it’s taped and box-shaped, attach handles with ribbon.

Consider the ribbon length based on how you plan to play.

If you make it longer, it can be a shoulder bag.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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