Age 4: Simple and Fun! Handmade Toy Ideas
By the age of four, children’s imaginations blossom, and they become able to express their thoughts and feelings smoothly in words.
They also get better at using tools like scissors and glue, which further expands the range of crafts they can make.
So this time, we’re introducing handmade toy ideas that will captivate four-year-olds.
From moving toys to flying toys to sound-making toys, there are plenty of fun ideas that will capture a four-year-old’s heart!
Encourage children to use their free imagination and expressive power to make a favorite piece.
We hope they have lots of fun playing while enjoying communication with their friends!
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[Age 4] Easy and fun! Handmade toy ideas (21–30)
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!
cardboard camera
Let me introduce a cardboard camera that’s perfect for a walk.
Prepare cardboard, cellophane, a paper cup, and double-sided tape.
Cut two pieces of cardboard to the size of the camera you want to make.
Take a paper cup that’s cut in half horizontally with slits cut vertically, place it against the cardboard, then cut out a lens shape and fit it in.
Stick colored cellophane over the top, glue the cardboard pieces together, and you’re done! Try adding a yarn strap for walks or changing the cellophane colors and decorating it as you like!
[Age 4] Easy and Fun! Handmade Toy Ideas (31–40)
Better Sound! Tambourine
Let’s try making a tambourine using plastic bottle caps.
When you think of a tambourine, you probably imagine making sound by hitting it.
Here, we’ll show you how to make a tambourine that produces sound just by shaking the body.
Join two caps together, put rice inside, and secure them.
Next, use a paper plate cut in half to fasten the rice-filled caps.
Besides rice, you can also try small stones or small beans for variation.
You can enjoy adding personality by drawing your favorite pictures or patterns on the paper plate.
It’s easier to make sound by shaking it side to side rather than up and down, so give it a try.
Handmade microphone
Let me introduce a cute original microphone craft.
Prepare a plastic wrap tube, a capsule toy container, origami paper, and yarn, and let’s make it.
Wrap the origami paper around the plastic wrap tube so that a bit of the paper sticks out on either the left or right side.
On the side where the paper sticks out, tape on the yarn, crumple the extra paper to make it small, and tuck it into the center of the wrap tube—this completes the microphone handle.
Next, place the capsule toy container on top of the wrap tube and tape it so it won’t fall off, and your microphone is complete! Draw a switch on the handle, and add illustrations or stickers as you like to create your very own original microphone.
Handmade aluminum balloon
https://www.tiktok.com/@mumumama_ch/video/7470453610678127890Let’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!
Magnet and fabric sticking play
https://www.tiktok.com/@nagoya_kodomo/video/7119471763578244353It’s fun how they stick with a snap! Here are some ideas for magnet-and-fabric sticking play.
Let’s make fabric toys that even infants can enjoy! You’ll need fabric or felt, magnets, fabric adhesive, needles, and thread.
If you create popular characters or illustrations from picture books with fabric or felt, children will be captivated! Sew magnets into each piece, and they’ll snap together so kids can play over and over.
Please be very careful to prevent accidental swallowing of magnets.
Magnetic matching game
Let’s promote fine motor development by sticking magnets on and pulling them off! Here are some ideas for magnet matching games.
These are handmade toys that even infants can enjoy, so take this opportunity to give them a try.
You’ll need a whiteboard, clear tape, magnetic sheets, colored pens, construction paper, and scissors.
For the designs, you can draw motifs that interest the children, or adapt them to focus on colors or numbers.
A nice bonus is that you can get the materials at a 100-yen shop!