Handmade games: DIY craft ideas you can make and play

Marble Climbing

Handmade toy: “Marble Climbing”

When you think of a marble run, you usually imagine marbles rolling from top to bottom, but this one makes the marble go upward.

First, prepare a wooden board with many holes big enough for a marble to fall through, and combine it with other wooden boards at an angle to form a box shape.

Next, make a small box just large enough to hold a marble.

Cut holes in the front and back of this box so the marble can pass through.

Attach strings to the box so you can pull it from both sides, creating a mechanism that lifts the marble upward—then it’s complete.

If, while lifting the marble, it slips through the box’s holes and falls into one of the holes in the wooden board, you’re out.

If the marble climbs all the way to the top without falling, you win!

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Paper Plate Balance Game

A fun parent-child craft game! Can you balance marbles evenly on a wobbly paper plate? #crafts #handmadetoys #easycrafts

Let me introduce a guaranteed crowd-pleasing, handmade recreation activity you can make and play with elementary school kids: the Paper Plate Balance Game.

Paint a paper plate in four colors—red, yellow, blue, and green—and attach capsule toy containers or paper cups underneath to create an unstable balancing base.

The rules use two kinds of dice: one regular number die and a special die with “colors” and faces like “x2” and “x3.” Players take turns placing small counters (like marbles or flat game pieces) according to the color and number rolled.

If you upset the balance and make pieces fall, you lose.

It’s easy to make, and a fun idea game that nurtures dexterity, concentration, and creativity.

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kojifumi

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Infinite Marble Run

Infinite Marble Run

Here’s a perfect boredom-buster for kids: a marble run that rolls endlessly.

You’ll need two stiff, deep paper plates and two paper cups.

First, cut a hole in the center of each plate to make a donut shape.

Next, make a single slit on each plate, then interlock the two plates so they form a figure eight.

When assembling, a hot glue gun is recommended over glue or paste.

Finally, insert the paper cups into the holes you cut in the plates, and you’re done! The marble will whirl around the figure-eight track so kids can enjoy it for ages.

To make it more challenging, try playing with the paper cups removed.

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Let’s try making a tangram

[Math Craft] Let’s make the ever-popular educational puzzle “Tangram” for kids! A math video where you build and play

Here’s an idea for making a handmade tangram, a puzzle that’s popular with children.

There are many store-bought options, but you can make one yourself if you have construction paper.

Creating it on your own also leads to discoveries about numbers.

Tangrams let you freely choose colors and shapes while having fun, and they nurture creativity and spatial awareness.

As kids cut out the pieces and arrange them, they naturally develop fine motor skills and concentration.

Completing a figure or making an original design gives them a sense of accomplishment and boosts their confidence.

A handmade tangram isn’t just a toy—it becomes a warm, enriching experience that supports children’s intellectual and emotional growth.

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kepiko

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A crane game where you can grab capsules

[Crafting LIVE] I made the crane part of a crane game that can grab capsules

A capsule-compatible claw machine made from cardboard offers an impressive look and engaging controls.

Cut the main body parts from cardboard, temporarily hold them in place with tape, then assemble.

Making use of the corrugated structure increases strength and stability.

Thread yarn through the claw section for opening and closing, and set up additional yarn to support the body so it can be operated.

To prevent the claw from opening too wide, use items like batteries as stoppers for a more realistic motion.

Reinforce the claw so it can grip capsules without dropping them, and add eye designs to give the appearance a sharper finish.

Small adjustments to the details change the difficulty, making this a three-dimensional idea that expands the fun of play.

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mutō

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straw airplane

"Straw Airplane" Flies Like Crazy Outdoors! — From a Magazine by Play Experts in After‑School Care

Popular in after-school care, the “straw airplane” is a fun craft that’s easy to make with a straw and construction paper—and it flies really well.

First, cut off the bendy part of the straw with scissors so it’s straight.

Next, cut two long, narrow strips from the construction paper, roll each into a ring, and tape them to the front and back of the straw.

Using a smaller ring in front and a larger ring in back makes it stable and helps it fly surprisingly far.

Kids are amazed at how it flies differently from a regular paper airplane! You can compete to see whose airplane flies the farthest, try different throwing techniques, and enjoy playing over and over.

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kojifumi

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You can make it in 10 seconds! Marble run

[COVID-19 School Closure Activities] Make It in 10 Seconds! Marble Run — Super Easy Craft & Play

Want to play something right now? For you, here’s a marble-rolling game you can make in 10 seconds.

All you need is a food tray and a pencil.

A slightly larger tray might work better.

To make it, just poke several holes in the tray with the pencil.

Roll lots of marbles on the tray and fit them into the holes you made—done! You can also write point values next to each hole and turn it into a game to see how many points you can score by placing marbles in them.

It’s quick to make even if you don’t have much time, so give it a try!

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