Lovely handmade crafts

[Let’s Make and Play!] Handmade Ideas for a Target Shooting Game

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

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)

Target practice game where you throw a ball

Target practice game combining chopsticks and clothespins

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!

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Wobbly Ghost Target Game

[Make-and-Play Craft] Wobbly Ghost Target Game ♪ Let’s make it and have fun ♪ Perfect for festivals [For ages 1–3]

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.

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Target practice game with an extending sword

Play hero with an extending sword! Target-hitting game

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.

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Strikeout you can play at home

How to Make a Home Play Strikeout Game | JKK Sumairu Assistant, JKK Tokyo

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!

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Target practice game with paper cups

Easy Shooting Game with Paper Cups! [Try Making It? Craft Edition]

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.

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