Lovely handmade crafts

Enjoy traditional games with your kids! A collection of DIY stilts (made from bamboo) ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.

Takeuma (stilts made from bamboo) are a traditional toy that lets you enjoy the sense of balance.

Here are some hands-on ideas for making your own takeuma so you can also enjoy the feeling of accomplishment when you finish.

They’re toys, but safety is important: use bamboo pieces of the same size, and assemble the footrests securely.

The longer the bamboo, the harder it is to keep your balance once you step on, so it’s best to build them to a size that suits the user.

Once you get the hang of it, you can even play tag or dance on takeuma!

Try making them together with your child, experimenting as you go.

Enjoy traditional games with your kids! Handmade Stilts Ideas (11–20)

Homemade stilts for children

I tried making stilts at home!

Homemade stilts for children

Make your own stilts at home! Here’s how to build handmade bamboo stilts.

You’ll need two bamboo poles, four wooden blocks for the footrests, wire, and plastic string.

First, cut notches into the wooden blocks to make it easier to tie the wire.

Pair the blocks, clamp them onto the bamboo to form footrests, and bind them with wire.

Be sure to set the footrests at a slant.

To tighten the footrests securely, tie string from above—and you’re done! You can get the materials at a home improvement store, so try making them with your kids.

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In conclusion

Although bamboo stilts are known as a traditional pastime, there may be adults who have never actually tried them.

Handmade bamboo stilts take a little time to complete, but they’re a traditional toy that lets adults and children enjoy the time spent making them together.

And once they’re finished, you can look forward to the fun of riding and playing on them.

As you get the hang of it, you can try all sorts of games.

If you can’t get bamboo, you can substitute materials like wood, so start by looking for materials and enjoy the whole process together with your child.