[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!
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[Let’s Make and Play!] Handmade Ideas for a Target-Hitting Game (31–40)
Spiderweb Target Game
Perfect for Halloween! Here’s a fun idea for a spiderweb target game.
In this version, colorful balls stick to clear tape.
If your homemade shuriken (throwing star) is made of paper, it will stick to the tape, so protect it with lamination or clear tape to make it reusable—feel free to tweak the idea and play! A spiderweb-shaped target made from construction paper will get everyone excited, too.
Try switching up the target to match the season so kids won’t get bored.
Let’s defeat the aliens!
Harness your creativity and make it with construction paper! Here are ideas for “Defeat the Aliens!” In the video, we use a cup-ramen rocket, but it could also work as a target for throwing stars! What you’ll need: construction paper in your favorite colors, tape or glue, scissors, pens, and round stickers.
What kind of image comes to mind when you think of an alien? Maybe a tall, slender green one, or a round, light-blue one—everyone has a different idea.
Use construction paper to freely create that image.
It really sparks creativity!
Scrap-wood Archery
Make and play with everyday materials! Here are some ideas for upcycled archery.
You’ll need: a paper tube, an awl, a straw, rubber bands, paper cups, tissue paper, and scissors.
First, use the awl to make a hole in the paper tube.
Cut off the accordion part of the straw, then ball up some tissue paper and attach it to the tip.
Cut a notch at the back of the straw where you can hook a rubber band, and you’re done! Stack paper cups to make a target.
Insert the straw into the hole in the paper tube, hook the rubber band, and launch.
Try experimenting with different ways to shoot!
Target practice with a bag stuffed with cotton
Get the party going at events! Here’s a fun target game idea using bags stuffed with cotton.
Many people host parties for occasions like Christmas or Halloween, right? In those moments, try a group game that uses event-themed motifs to amp up the excitement.
All you need are gift bags, cotton, and ribbon.
If you don’t have patterned gift bags, drawing illustrations on clear bags with a marker works great, too! It’s a fun idea with lots of room for customization.
In the video, an air cannon is used, but it also looks like it could double as a target for throwing paper shuriken.
Cool rubber band gun
Let me introduce a strong and cool rubber band gun.
Prepare 17 bendable straws, a clothespin, tape, and scissors, and let’s make it.
Take two straws and tape their bendable sections together to secure them.
Attach one clothespin to the gap of the joined straws to create the base.
When bundling straws, secure them tightly so the stacked pieces don’t shift.
Stack eight straws by grouping them in sets of four, extend the bendable sections, and build the structure.
When attaching parts together, make sure the straws are firmly fixed so they don’t slip.
Once it’s finished, hook on a rubber band and give it a try!
[Let’s Make and Play!] DIY Target Practice Game Ideas (41–50)
Ogre Tower Made with Paper Cups
Make and play together with your kids! Here are ideas for an ogre (oni) tower made from paper cups.
Children have rich imaginations, and they often surprise us with “I never would’ve thought of that!” This time, let’s build an oni tower with your child.
You’ll need paper cups, construction paper in your favorite colors, scissors, glue or tape, and pens or colored pencils.
What kind of image do children have of an oni? It’ll be fun to see the expressions they draw and the colors they choose!
In conclusion
We introduced some DIY target game ideas. Did you find any you’d like to make and try? Target games have simple rules, so even young children can enjoy them. You can adjust the difficulty by changing the size of the targets and the tools you use. They’re easy to make from recycled materials, so give it a try and have fun making and playing!