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[Let’s Make and Play!] Handmade Ideas for a Target Shooting Game
Starting with festival-style shooting galleries, target games are a popular pastime enjoyed by both kids and adults.
It’s a simple game where you just aim at and hit the targets with a ball or similar, but missing can be so frustrating that you can’t help getting hooked.
In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of DIY ideas for target games.
If you’re looking for handmade games that will delight children, why not give these a try?
Decorate the targets as ghosts or demons, and prepare different ways to knock them down—not just balls, but also toy guns, archery sets, air cannons, and more—to make things even more exciting!
[Let’s Make and Play!] DIY Target Shooting Game Ideas (1–10)
Balloon gun target-shooting game
Let’s enjoy a target-shooting game with a balloon popper! The balloon popper is easy to make: take a paper cup and cut out the bottom, then stretch a balloon with the tip cut off over the opening and secure it with tape.
Be sure to cut off the part you blow into and tie a knot in the mouth of the balloon.
For the targets, cut a paper cup in half vertically and attach round pieces of construction paper with point values written on them.
For the projectiles, crumple up some paper into a ball and wrap it all around with tape.
Put the ball into the paper cup, pull back on the balloon, and let go—the ball will shoot out with a good burst of speed!
Target-shooting game with a plastic bottle air cannon
Let’s have fun knocking down targets with an air cannon! Making an air cannon is easy.
Cut a sturdy plastic bottle about 5 centimeters from the mouth, and reinforce the cut edge with vinyl tape.
Snip off a bit of the balloon’s expandable part, then stretch it over the cut end of the bottle and secure it with tape.
Be sure to tie off the balloon’s mouth.
Pull and stretch the balloon, then release it, and air will shoot out from the bottle’s mouth to knock down the target.
Make the targets out of lightweight materials like construction paper.
Demon-slaying play in pachinko
Pachinko, long popular with children, makes a perfect toy for target practice.
Cross the ends of two chopsticks in a plus shape and tie them with a rubber band.
On the opposite end, lay a short chopstick across horizontally and secure it the same way.
Cut a small rectangle out of sturdy material like thick paper or a milk carton, then punch one hole on each side.
Thread a rubber band through each hole and tie them, then attach the other ends to the split tips of the chopsticks you made earlier.
That’s it! For targets, stick origami paper onto toilet paper rolls, draw faces to make little “oni” (demons), and you’re ready.
Make it by Setsubun and try your hand at “oni-slaying” on the day!
Target shooting game with a rubber band gun
This is a target game that uses a rubber band gun made with straws and a clothespin.
Rubber band guns are often made with chopsticks, but for small children, straws might be easier to handle.
It may seem difficult to make, but in fact you only need to attach five points, so follow the steps and take your time.
Fixing the straw and the clothespin can be a bit tricky depending on age, so an adult should help with that part.
You can use anything for the targets, like construction paper or paper cups.
Just be sure not to aim at people or animals.
Target shooting game with milk cartons
Here’s an idea for making a target game using a single milk carton.
After washing the carton well and letting it dry, cut off the bottom and the spout.
Snip along the corners of the remaining part to open it up, then cut it in half vertically.
Take one half and fold it in half lengthwise (mountain fold).
Next, fold both ends inward toward the center crease (valley folds) so it forms an M-shape from the side.
Staple only one of the valley-folded sides—this completes the launcher tool.
Take the other half of the carton, divide it into three pieces, and draw pictures or designs on them to make your targets.
Hook a rubber band onto the launcher, then spread the un-stapled end to the left and right—the rubber band will shoot forward with a snap.
Target practice game where you throw a ball
How about a target game where you launch a ball using a simple launcher? You can make it with everyday materials, so try building it together as a parent–child project and have fun! First, sandwich one clothespin between two pairs of chopsticks and secure them with tape.
The trick is to clamp the chopsticks in the metal spring of the clothespin.
Next, cut two slits in a plastic bottle cap, loop a rubber band through, and attach it to the tip of the chopsticks you just made—your launcher is complete! You can decorate it with colored tape or masking tape, too.
For targets, milk cartons are budget-friendly! Make a few and write numbers on them so you can compete for points.
See how many points you can score and have a blast competing with family and friends!
Wobbly Ghost Target Game
Here’s an idea for a “ghost target game” that could be used for summer haunted houses or Halloween decorations.
It’s easy to make: just cut construction paper into ghost shapes or inflate balloons, then stick on facial features! Using decorative tape or yarn to add a three-dimensional look is also recommended.
Once the ghosts are ready, attach string and hang them from the ceiling.
This version sways gently and is fun to aim at, but since it doesn’t topple like a standard target, if you use it as a game, it might be best to assign point values to each ghost and compete by the total score of successful hits.
Target practice game with an extending sword
A “stretching sword target game” that boys in particular are likely to love.
When you swing the sword, the paper wrapped around it extends and knocks down the target.
The extended part can be rolled back as many times as you like, so you can enjoy it repeatedly.
It’s easy to make, so try making it with your kids.
First, insert a chopstick into a straw with the tip cut off and secure it with tape.
Take about 10 sheets of copy paper cut in half horizontally, connect them side by side, and attach one end to the straw.
Finally, roll the paper around the straw, and it’s done! Since this sword isn’t very sturdy, lightweight targets like paper balloons are recommended.
Strikeout you can play at home
It would be fun to play “Struck Out,” the game you often see on variety shows, at home! Here’s an easy DIY idea using felt.
Use adhesive felt to make the numbers 1–9 and stick each one onto separate pieces of felt.
Next, evenly attach the numbered felt pieces to a large felt sheet, flip it over, and fix a rod to the areas with double-sided tape.
You can also decorate it with any leftover felt! For the balls, wrap hook-and-loop (Velcro) tape around ping-pong balls.
Hang the board from a hook and play by throwing the balls at it.
Try customizing the rules, like deciding how many balls each player can throw and competing by the total of the numbers they hit!
Target practice game with paper cups
Let’s make a target game with paper cups.
First, prepare two paper cups with the bottoms cut out and stack them.
Since you’ll be using a craft knife to cut them out, be sure to assist young children if they’re helping.
Next, take another paper cup and cut it about 2 centimeters up from the bottom, then make a cross-shaped slit in the bottom piece.
Tie a rubber band to a cotton swab with the cotton tip removed, thread it through the slits from the inside of the cup, and secure it with tape.
Finally, stack this onto the first paper cup, and you’re done.
When you pull the rubber band from the inside, the paper cup will launch with a snap.
For the target, use paper cups labeled with point values.