Easy DIY Fishing Game! Craft Ideas Useful for Childcare
Fishing games you often see at daycare and kindergarten summer festivals or pretend fairs.
There’s an addictive kind of fun in staring intently at the fish you’re aiming for, moving the rod with focus, and feeling that rush of accomplishment when the fish catches!
How about making a handmade version of that beloved fishing game for kids?
This time, we’re introducing ideas for fishing games you can make using a variety of materials.
From fish that float in water like the real thing to ones that hop and bounce—there are tons of fun ideas that spark kids’ curiosity!
They’re all easy to make with familiar recycled materials like cardboard, paper cups, and plastic bottles, or items from the dollar store, so gather everyone and make them together—then enjoy your fishing game to the fullest!
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Easy DIY Fishing Game! Craft Ideas Useful for Childcare (11–20)
Indoor fun for the rainy season! Fishing game made from recycled materials
This is a craft project where you reuse food trays and empty containers to make a toy for pretend fishing.
By simply wrapping the prepared containers with colorful origami paper, you can create a variety of fish.
For a crab, wrap the container completely with red origami paper and attach claws and eyes.
For a turtle, use the bulging part of the container as the shell and draw patterns on it.
For the classic fish, crumple origami paper and put it into a plastic bag.
Cut the bag to a longer length, tie it with a rubber band, then attach eyes and fins to finish.
You can also easily make a fishing rod using a magnet, string, and a chopstick.
To make the fish stick to the hook, attach magnets to hidden spots on the fish and have fun fishing!
Easy with 100-yen shop materials! Play-at-home fishing
Let’s make a DIY fishing game using items you can buy at a 100-yen shop, such as laminate film and magnets.
Prepare fish illustrations and stick them onto the laminate film.
The trick is to press with your hand to avoid trapping air bubbles.
Cut around the fish, leaving a 5 mm margin on the outside.
Attach a paper clip to the cut piece, and the fish are ready.
Make the fishing rod by attaching thread, a magnet, and a wooden chopstick.
Wrapping it with washi tape gives it a more festive finish.
How about trying this for a rainy-day activity in daycare or as an indoor game to enjoy at home with your child?
A fishing toy made from paper cups
A fishing game that also helps with fine motor skills and brain training.
Prepare paper cups with fish illustrations.
Provide colorful pens and stickers, and let the children draw the illustrations.
Attach a ring made from newspaper to the paper cup to complete each fish.
You can adjust the difficulty by changing the length of the ring.
Decorate a pair of chopsticks with masking tape, connect them to newspaper, and attach a hook to create the fishing rod.
The newspaper sways when they try to catch a fish, helping kids focus on the activity.
It’s also fun to add a point system or set a time limit.
Fishing game made from a flyer
Why not try making a fishing rod using leftover paper or flyers? It’s easy to make with string, paper clips, magnets, and the like.
Fold the corner of the flyer at a 45-degree angle and secure it with cellophane tape.
Fold back the tip and cut it, leaving 4–5 cm.
Next, use a paper clip to attach a cut straw to the flyer.
Tie the string to the clip beforehand, then thread it through the straw, which has a slit cut from the opposite side.
Form a triangle and tie the string to create the handle.
Slide the triangle onto the rod and remove the paper clip, and you’re ready to go fishing.
If you add a magnet, there’s no hook, so you can just pull to put it away.
Give it a try—it’s simple to make and won’t tangle the line.
Felt fishing toy
This is a fishing toy made with soft, fluffy felt fabric.
Gather colorful materials and try making various kinds of fish.
It’s a great idea to have children share ideas and even make the fish themselves together with teachers or parents.
Attach magnets to the backs of the finished fish and catch them with a fishing rod.
If you’re doing this in a nursery or kindergarten, you could compete to see who catches the most fish or hold a timed race.
Give this fishing game a try—it’s a fun way to get kids’ minds working.
Fishing game made with shrink plastic
When it comes to play that brings out children’s free ideas, a fishing game made with shrink plastic sheets is perfect.
Draw your favorite fish on a plastic sheet and cut them out.
Use oil-based markers so the drawings won’t dissolve in water.
Place them on aluminum foil and bake them in a toaster oven, and they’re done! When you float the fish drawn on the clear plastic in water, they can even look like they’re really swimming.
Scooping them up with a scooper or taking photogenic pictures also sounds fun.
Try this fishing game to experience the joy of both crafting and gameplay.
Easy DIY Fishing Game! Craft Ideas Useful for Childcare (21–30)
Goldfish scooping made with construction paper
Let’s make it with simple steps! Here are some ideas for making a goldfish scooping game out of construction paper.
Wouldn’t it be fun to recreate the goldfish scooping you see at festivals and food stalls at your preschool or at home? This time, let’s try making a goldfish scooping game using construction paper and paper plates.
You’ll need long, thin strips of colored construction paper, paper plates, a stapler, scissors, cellophane tape, glue, and stickers.
Make the goldfish out of colored paper and the poi (scooping paddle) out of paper plates.
Even without water, putting them in something like a kiddie pool should create the right atmosphere.