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 (31–40)
Dreamland with a magnet
Learn about magnets while having fun crafting! Here’s a magnetic Dreamland idea.
The charm of this project is that you can make a mysterious, entertaining toy that moves using capsules and magnets.
You’ll need origami paper, a white board, construction paper, magnets, empty gashapon capsules, poster paper, a color wave sheet, glue, scissors, and pens.
Draw roads on the board and decorate with construction paper and the color wave sheet.
Put a car illustration on an empty capsule and place a magnet inside—then it’s done! Move the capsule with the car illustration by guiding a magnet from the back of the board!
Magnet and pipe cleaner toy
Let me introduce a toy using magnets and pipe cleaners.
Prepare an empty 6-piece cheese box, bottle caps, pipe cleaners, a plastic sheet, drawing paper, string, clear tape, vinyl tape, and glue, and let’s make it.
Line the inside of the empty cheese box with drawing paper to create the base.
Cut the plastic sheet into a circle to make a window.
Choose the colors of the pipe cleaners, cut them to length, and place them inside the cheese box to get ready.
Put a magnet inside a bottle cap, and tape two caps together with vinyl tape so the magnet won’t fall out.
Make a hole in the cap, thread the string through, and create the magnetic part that will move the pipe cleaners.
By holding the magnet against the outside of the cheese box, the pipe cleaners inside gather and move, making it a fun toy to play with!
Empty Can Tambourine
Let me share an idea for making tambourines out of empty cans and boxes.
What you’ll need: empty cans or boxes from snacks, double-sided tape or glue, parts made from construction paper, and decorative materials.
Have you ever thrown away a round cookie tin or an empty cheese box thinking it might be useful for something? Why not try making a tambourine that’s fun to create and delightful to play, together with your child! The step where you freely stick the parts together is exciting for both kids and adults.
Give it a try!
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.
jelly cup
We’d like to introduce a simple, well-spinning handmade top using jelly cups! If your kids love jelly and you end up with lots of empty cups you want to repurpose, this is an idea worth trying.
First, the trick is to choose jelly cups with a rounded bottom.
By combining this idea with plastic bottle caps, you can make four different kinds of tops.
They’re all very easy to make, so have fun making them together with your children.
For the finishing touch, decorating with washi tape or stickers can give your tops a unique, personal look.
[Age 4] Simple and Fun! Handmade Toy Ideas (41–50)
Twisting Soap Bubbles
Make and play! Here’s an idea for unbreakable, twirling soap bubbles.
You’ll need holographic origami paper, round stickers, a straw, scissors, reinforcement ring stickers, a bamboo skewer, and tape.
First, cut the holographic origami paper into 5 mm strips and attach eight strips to a round sticker.
Cut four slits in the straw and apply a reinforcement ring sticker.
After adhering the straw and holographic paper together, thread them onto the bamboo skewer.
Tape the top in place, and you’re done!
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!
