This time, we’re introducing handmade toys that are fun for outdoor play.
Many of the ideas use familiar materials and recyclables, and we also feature lots of nostalgic, traditional toys—like stilts and paper airplanes—that adults may remember fondly.
Since they’re handmade, you can draw pictures, add stickers, and customize them any way you like!
Be sure to enjoy creating your own original decorations.
We also introduce toys that use the power of the wind, so make the most of nature’s energy and have fun playing!
- [Let’s Make and Play!] Handmade Toy Ideas You Can Create Yourself
- Made of paper! A fun collection of DIY toy ideas you can play with
- [For Elementary School Kids] Handmade Toy Craft Ideas
- Moving! Spinning! Flying! Fun handmade toys made with rubber bands
- A handmade collection of Anpanman ideas to enjoy
- [For Kids] Today’s Handmade Craft Ideas
- [Educational] DIY Montessori-style toy ideas
- Let's make toys with straws! Easy and fun DIY toys
- [DIY] A Collection of Handmade Moving Toy Craft Ideas
- Easy DIY! Introducing educational toys that can be easily made with 100-yen shop items and things around the house.
- [Handmade] A collection of bamboo-copter ideas using various materials
- Handmade summer festival games: a collection of ideas you can enjoy at kindergartens, daycare centers, and at home.
- Let's make toys with paper cups! Simple and fun handmade toys
[Create with Kids] Handmade Outdoor Play Toy Special (1–10)
Parachute

Let’s launch it! Let’s catch it! Here are some handmade parachute ideas.
What you’ll need: a plastic bag, kite string, a toilet paper roll, newspaper, rubber bands, chopsticks, scissors, tape, vinyl tape, and colorful round stickers.
Why not make a parachute with your child and go outside to fly and play with it? For infants, decorating the parachute using stickers or markers works well.
For preschoolers, we recommend working on the main crafting together with a parent or teacher!
Snap Lacrosse

Have you ever heard of snap lacrosse? It’s a game where you launch a ball and catch it, and you can actually make it using scrap materials! First, wrap a toilet paper roll with your favorite origami paper to make the handle.
Fold any excess paper into the inside.
You can secure it with tape, too.
Next, take two other toilet paper rolls, cut them open lengthwise, then cut each opened roll in half crosswise.
You’ll have four rings—staple them together in the shape of the hiragana character “し,” and attach this to the handle you made earlier.
That’s it! For the ball, use a ping-pong ball or crumple up some tissues.
Disposable chopstick airplane

Let’s make a chopstick airplane that flies high using the power of rubber bands! Since you’ll be using a saw, please proceed with safety in mind.
First, on the thicker end of the chopsticks, make marks: 3 cm from the bottom on the outside, and 2.5 cm on the inside.
Then, saw only the upper stick at an angle.
For the airplane’s fuselage, attach a paper template made from construction paper to the chopsticks.
Next, connect four rubber bands and wrap them tightly.
If you create a groove in the chopsticks beforehand, the bands will grip firmly.
Use this to launch the airplane you just made! When playing, don’t aim at people and be sure to play in a wide, open area.
milk carton clogs

Fun and full of ways to play! Here’s an idea for making “milk carton stilts.” You’ll need six milk cartons, flat plastic ribbon (suzuran tape), scissors, tape, and a hole punch.
Enjoy a classic game with a handmade toy! First, cut the milk cartons, place an accordion-folded milk carton inside, and secure it with tape.
Next, punch holes on both sides with the hole punch.
Finally, thread the suzuran tape through the holes, and you’re done! Once you get used to it, try arranging races or relays to make it even more fun!
straw dragonfly

You can easily make a bamboo-copter using a straw! Here’s how to make a fun straw-copter.
First, make the blades from a milk carton.
Cut the milk carton horizontally into a 16 cm wide strip, then cut that strip into 2 cm wide pieces vertically.
Fold each piece in half.
Round off the tips of the blades.
Next, cut a straw to 16 cm in length.
Make a slit at one end of the straw so you can attach the blades.
Flatten that end a little, then insert the milk-carton blades straight into the slit.
Staple the slit area to secure the blades.
Spread the blades, add color with a permanent marker, and you’re done! Drawing your favorite designs on the blades also makes it extra cute.
Frisbee made with paper plates

Let’s get colorful and create freely! Here are some ideas for making spinning disc toys using paper plates.
You’ll need paper plates, a pencil, pens, and scissors.
This idea is simple and easy to follow, so it’s great for all ages! First, mark the paper plate and color it with pens.
The key point is to color not only the front but also the back! Finally, cut slits into the paper plate and crease them, and you’re done.
The way the colorful disc toy spins around is really fun to watch!
Cardboard Swirly Badminton

Unpredictable movements make it so fun! Let me introduce the idea of Spinning Cardboard Badminton.
All you need is cardboard, a clear file folder, tissues, tape, a permanent marker, a ruler, craft glue, and scissors.
The beauty of this idea is that you can make it with materials found at home or in a classroom! The key is the propeller made from the clear file attached to the ball, so try adjusting the angles as you build it.
It also sounds fun to decorate the cardboard rackets with stickers and more.


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