Recommended for 5-year-olds! Simple DIY toy ideas
Five-year-olds become more dexterous and better at using tools, so you’ll start to see them trying to express the images they imagine through their own creations.
We want them to build up lots of experiences while enjoying the fun of making things on their own.
So this time, we’re introducing handmade toy ideas that will further expand the world of making for five-year-olds.
From toys with unique movements, to ones that invite deep, focused play, to those that encourage interaction with friends—we’ve gathered plenty of handmade toy ideas that kids will love.
Incorporate each child’s free ideas and creativity, make adjustments as you go, and try making and playing a lot together with friends and teachers.
- [Childcare] Playful craft ideas to enjoy with 5-year-olds
- Age 4: Simple and Fun! Handmade Toy Ideas
- [Age 5] Exciting and fun! A special feature on ideas for at-home play
- [May] A collection of craft ideas to try with 5-year-olds
- [Childcare] Recommended for toddlers! Toy ideas you can make and play with
- [Nursery/Kindergarten] Crafts you can play with after making them
- Let's make toys with paper cups! Simple and fun handmade toys
- For 5-Year-Olds: Let’s Make It! A Collection of Craft Ideas to Feel the Spring
- For older kindergarteners: Let’s make it! A collection of recommended origami ideas for February
- Ideas for indoor activities, games, and group play that 5-year-olds enjoy
- [For 5-Year-Olds] Recommended Indoor Play! A Collection of Exciting Games
- [For toddlers] Simple but amazing craft ideas — including toys they can play with
- August Craft Ideas for 5-Year-Olds
Recommended for 5-year-olds! Simple DIY toy ideas (21–30)
ruffous horseshoe bat
Just like a real bat! Here’s an idea for a flapping bat.
Bats are nocturnal and often rest during the day in caves, gaps in trees, or attics, but many children are familiar with them from Halloween illustrations and picture books.
This time, let’s make a flapping bat with origami.
All you need is origami paper cut to half size.
The steps are simple and easy to follow, so once kids learn the folds, they’ll likely be able to make one on their own!
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!
Decorating tambourines is fun
Here are some fun ideas for decorating tambourines.
You’ll need two paper plates, straws, scissors, tape, a pen, and masking tape.
Put the cut pieces of straw between the paper plates, press them together, and seal the edges with tape and masking tape—that’s it! Use pens in your favorite colors to draw expressions on the tambourine.
It’s also fun to give the front and back different expressions, like a smiling face on one side and a sleeping face on the other.
The simple method makes it easy for kids to follow, which is part of its charm!
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!
Demon-slaying play in pachinko
Pachinko, long popular with children, makes a perfect toy for target practice.
Cross the ends of two chopsticks in a plus shape and tie them with a rubber band.
On the opposite end, lay a short chopstick across horizontally and secure it the same way.
Cut a small rectangle out of sturdy material like thick paper or a milk carton, then punch one hole on each side.
Thread a rubber band through each hole and tie them, then attach the other ends to the split tips of the chopsticks you made earlier.
That’s it! For targets, stick origami paper onto toilet paper rolls, draw faces to make little “oni” (demons), and you’re ready.
Make it by Setsubun and try your hand at “oni-slaying” on the day!
plastic bottle cap
The spinning top made by connecting plastic bottle caps with string has a unique wind-catching shape and a colorful look that really stands out.
Make a hole in the center of each cap, connect them with string to form a ring, and adjust the angles as you shape it into a circle.
Once it’s neat and round, attach round pieces of thick paper to the top and bottom center, make holes in them, and add the axle to finish.
If it’s too small and hard to spin, try increasing the number of connected caps or making the axle larger for an easier grip.
Also pay attention to which direction it spins more easily, and aim for a more stable rotation.
Magnet UFO
Unpredictable! Irregular motion is fascinating! Here’s an idea for a magnetic unidentified flying object.
What comes to mind when you hear “UFO”? Some people might imagine round lights or being taken away in a bright beam.
The charm of this UFO is its irregular movement.
Let’s make a toy with addictive, unique motion by taking advantage of magnets’ properties! If there’s any chance a child might swallow a magnet, make sure a parent or teacher is always supervising nearby.