[Great for water play!] DIY plastic bottle toys: easy ideas you can copy
On hot days, you want to cool off and play with water, right?
It also helps prevent heatstroke, and I think kids love water-based play.
In this article, I’ll share DIY ideas for toys made with plastic bottles that are perfect for water play.
If you use empty plastic bottles, it won’t cost much, and you can actually make a surprising number of toys.
We’ve gathered ideas kids will love—like showers, fountains, water guns, and goldfish scooping—so use them as a reference and give them a try!
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[Great for water play!] Handmade plastic bottle toys. Easy-to-copy ideas (11–20)
Bath Rocket
Let’s make a rocket—popular with kids—using a plastic bottle.
Take an empty bottle and decorate it with colored tape of your choice.
Adding a window gives it a real rocket feel, so it’s recommended.
Besides the bathtub, it’s fun to let it float in a pool, and you can even enjoy playing with it underwater.
You could also make crew members out of aluminum foil or styrofoam and put them inside the rocket to make playtime even more exciting.
Enjoy a fun time with your bath-time rocket!
shovel
A scoop made from a plastic bottle is great not only for water play but also for sandboxes.
Since you need to cut out the side of the bottle with scissors or a utility knife, it can be challenging as a kids’ craft depending on their age, so an adult should do the cutting.
If you poke holes in the finished scoop with an awl, it can double as a watering can—perfect for making water play even more fun.
It’s a versatile craft that works with different bottle sizes, so you can enjoy trying various options.
Colored Water Theater with Plastic Bottles
A color-water theater using plastic bottles is sure to get kids excited, since they can watch the water change color right before their eyes.
You prepare a plastic bottle half-filled with water and a cap with watercolor paint applied on the inside; after sealing it, shake the bottle and the water will be dyed the color of the paint.
Since no stationery like scissors is needed for preparation, it seems safe for children to take the lead.
Plus, it’s a craft with lots of ways to enjoy it—like mixing the finished colored water to create new colors.
When you put it in water, the picture disappears! Plastic bottle magic
This is a handmade plastic bottle toy that’s perfect for fun family bath time.
Have the kids draw pictures and simply place them inside a plastic bottle—it’s an easy craft.
But when you submerge the picture-filled bottle in water, the drawings seem to disappear.
The kids will surely be surprised to see the pictures vanish.
Of course, the drawings haven’t really disappeared; it’s a game that uses water’s reflective properties.
It’s a great way to add even more fun to your water play memories.
Sparkling and shiny! Fish bottle
The fish bottle made from a plastic bottle is perfect for children’s crafts because it’s easy to make and looks beautiful.
Just fill a plastic bottle with water, add a few drops of dish soap and a suitable amount of glitter, then shake the bottle well to mix—it’s done.
Decorating it to look like a fish adds originality, but if you plan to use it for water play, we recommend making it with water-resistant materials like milk cartons.
Also, if the cap is loose, the soapy water may spill out while playing, so please make sure an adult closes it tightly.
Crane catcher
@and.connect2023 You can make it with a paper cup, but this time we crafted it with a plastic cup so you can play with it in the bath! The rim is hard, so be careful when using scissors. The plastic cup gave the arm a stronger feel than the paper cup. The method is the same for paper cups, so choose whichever you like and have fun making and playing with it! &connect#MayuMariSenseiEnjoy parent-child timeFond of craftsCherish time with your children#StayHomePlay Project#EnjoyPlayingAtHomeIdeas for indoor play at homeCrafting with parents and children#I love craftswork kit#Mom's smile is the bestPaper cup craftCrane game with paper cups#PlayingWithWaterInTheBathplastic cup
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Kids’ favorite claw machine fun in the bathtub! Introducing the “Crane Catcher.” First, prepare two tall, clear plastic cups.
Cut eight slits into one of them.
Remove every other section, then spread the remaining tabs and fold the tips to make claws.
Poke a hole in the bottom of the second cup.
Make four 1 cm slits in a straw; spread them out and tape the straw to the first cup.
Finally, place the second cup over the first, and you’re done!
In conclusion
We introduced plastic bottle toys you can use for water play. With a bit of creativity, you can make all kinds of fun toys. If you find a favorite, be sure to try making it. When cutting plastic bottles, the edges can be sharp, so take precautions to prevent injuries.