Turn a cardboard tube into an educational toy! A handmade toy your kids will love
The core of plastic wrap is very hard and sturdy, isn’t it?
That very core is perfect as a material for kids’ handmade toys!
So this time, we’re introducing ideas for DIY toys that make the most of the wrap core’s long, cylindrical shape.
We’ve included sensory educational toys that stimulate babies’ five senses, as well as toys that toddlers can enjoy.
You can put them together right away using materials from 100-yen shops or recyclables, so the low cost is another great bonus!
Find something that matches your child’s stage of development and give it a try.
Turn a paper towel roll core into an educational toy! DIY toys kids will love (1–10)
Snug Little Caterpillar
A toy that lets kids learn the concept of numbers while playing: “Stick-On Caterpillar.” You make a caterpillar out of pom-poms, attach it to a magnet-tipped pen, and then insert it into a cardboard roll (from plastic wrap) cut to the matching length.
The numbers go from 1 to 6, so for the tube labeled 1, make a caterpillar with 1 pom-pom; for 6, connect 6 pom-poms.
Use an awl to make holes, thread a pipe cleaner through to secure the pom-poms, and sew on the face with thread.
Cut the wrap core to fit the caterpillar’s length and decorate it by wrapping construction paper around it.
It’s super cute—give it a try!
Spinning Drive
“Kurukuru Drive” is a toy that lets you use a paper towel roll as a road and drive a car along it.
It’s an irresistible idea for kids who love vehicles! First, sketch a road on the paper towel core.
Don’t forget to draw a start and a finish.
Once the drawing is done, color it in.
It’s even better if you add things like traffic lights and houses—it makes it feel more like real driving.
Finally, draw a car on a piece of plastic (vinyl) sized to fit the road’s width, color it, and wrap it around the paper towel core—that’s it! Line it up at the starting point and spin it to drive toward the goal!
Tall Poppo playing by pulling a chain
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSaOaqihgtm/This is a toy that uses a wrap core, imagining it as a cute character called Noppo-san.
Thread a chain through the hollow center of the core so you can enjoy the sensation of pulling it.
First, wrap white tape around the part of the core that will become the face.
Using that section as the center, wrap tape in your favorite colors above it to look like hair and below it to look like clothing.
Next, cut out facial features from tape and stick them onto the face area.
Finally, pass the chain through the hollow and secure it—that’s it! You can add hands or dress Noppo-san in patterns you like to make them extra cute.
Rainstick
How about making a rainstick using a plastic wrap core? This toy takes advantage of its tubular shape and sparks children’s creativity.
By changing what you put inside—such as adzuki beans, dry rice, or beads—you can enjoy a variety of tones.
Sensing the changes in sound stimulates children’s five senses and supports the development of their musical ear.
Once it’s finished, it would be lovely to play along to music together as a family.
Since you’re using recycled materials, it’s low-cost and eco-friendly as a craft activity.
Enjoy this charming handmade toy that nurtures children’s imagination and curiosity.
Swirl it up with plastic wrap
The wrap whirl toy is charming for its unique look.
The method is simple: first, prepare the core from a roll of plastic wrap.
Next, apply masking tape along the cut line on the core.
Finally, stick on a different-colored masking tape in the same manner, and it’s done.
Try finishing it with an image like a barber’s pole sign.
When you roll it, the two lines appear to intertwine, which is sure to catch the eye.
It can also be fun to roll it in front of a baby.
maracas microphone
Let’s make a realistic-looking microphone using a plastic wrap core! You’ll use half of a core, so please cut it in advance.
First, glue origami paper onto the wrap core, and on the side where the paper overhangs, tape a short piece of yarn to the inside of the core.
Then crumple the excess origami paper and push it inward to form a rounded shape.
Finally, tape a capsule toy container to the opposite end to complete your microphone! It’s also cute if you put beads inside the container so it makes a sound.
Enjoy karaoke at home with your very own mic!
A toy with many ways to play when cut into small pieces
Cut a paper wrap core into five pieces and wrap them with felt to make a toy.
To prevent injuries from the cut edges, please cover them with masking tape or something similar.
Basically, once you cut and attach the felt, it’s done, but it could be fun to write numbers on them or add hook-and-loop fasteners so the cores stick together.
You can also prepare a string to enjoy threading, use them like building blocks, or connect them all to pretend they’re a train.
It’s a simple toy, but there are many ways to play with it!