Let's make toys out of cardboard! Easy and fun handmade toys
We’re introducing handmade toys you can make out of cardboard.
This time, they’re geared toward children of preschool and kindergarten age!
We’ve gathered ideas that are easy to make and play with, focusing on ones kids will love.
Some projects may take a little more time to make, but if you create them, the kids will definitely be thrilled!
If you want to make handmade toys or enjoy crafting together with your child, be sure to use these ideas as a reference.
They’re perfect for everyday play at home, as well as for playing with lots of friends at preschool or kindergarten!
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Let’s make toys out of cardboard! Simple and fun handmade toys (1–10)
snap frog
Using rubber bands and cardboard, you can make a fun toy that hops like a frog! After you’ve built it, draw or decorate it however you like to create your own unique little frog and have fun playing with it! It’s also fun to compete to see how far you can make it jump!
Battledore and shuttlecock
Perfect for the New Year season! You can even make a “hagoita and shuttlecock” set out of cardboard.
Wooden ones are the usual standard, but with cardboard you don’t have to worry if they get lost or broken.
Plus, you can paint and draw on them yourself, making your New Year memories even richer every year!
Card flipping
For kids, goods featuring their favorite characters—like Anpanman or princesses—are something they want so much they might throw a tantrum.
In those moments, why not make them out of cardboard? This toy lets children flip through like cards and enjoy the illustrations, and since they can freely choose their favorite characters to play with, I’m sure they’ll be delighted!
Let's Make Toys with Cardboard! Easy and Fun Handmade Toys (11–20)
cardboard car
Let’s use a cardboard box to make everyone’s favorite: a car! You can buy a dedicated kit, or draw the windows and gauges yourself.
The key parts are the steering wheel and the tires—of course, you can draw them, but how about making them out of cardboard? It’s your time to shine!
play kitchen
Here’s the perfect cardboard play activity for kids who love playing house! You can make the coveted “kitchen” just like the one Mom and Dad use.
Decorate it colorfully with your own creative ideas, and even add an oven, shelves, and a working-looking faucet to create a kitchen that’s uniquely yours! Once it’s finished, let’s play house with it!
Whac-A-Mole
Prepare a toy squeaky hammer, and by combining cardboard with toilet paper rolls you can recreate an arcade-style whack-a-mole game! You’ll need someone to operate the mole side, so play with two people.
It could also be fun to substitute a different creature instead of a mole!
spinning top
With simple, easy steps, you can make nostalgic spinning tops and buzz tops out of cardboard.
It’s great that you can combine them with everyday items like string and toothpicks! Another appeal is that it’s not a big project—you can whip them up quickly in a short time.
And the best part is, they’re fun to play with after you’ve made them!