[Educational] Spark and nurture curiosity: simple and fun DIY toys
In this article, we’ll introduce simple homemade toys that spark and nurture children’s curiosity.
Kids love toys, but they often get bored with new ones quickly, or drop and break them.
That’s when homemade toys come in handy!
This time, we’ll show you how to make DIY toys using easily available materials that can be put together in a short time.
We’ll also introduce many toys that support early learning, so be sure to check them out and try making some yourself.
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[Educational] Draw out and nurture their curiosity. Simple, fun handmade toys (1–10)
Fishing set
Let’s make a fishing game using disposable chopsticks, string, and recycled materials you have at home! Create fish by attaching colored construction paper to empty yogurt or pudding cups and drawing on them, then make a fishing rod with chopsticks and string.
Attach paper clips or small magnets to both the fish and the rod so they stick together with a satisfying snap.
I’m climbing, Lily-chan.
It’s a toy where the character climbs up the string as you simply pull it.
You can easily make it with items like disposable chopsticks, a straw, and string.
Just attach a straw to the back of colored paper with a character drawn on it and thread the string through.
It’s also great to have kids draw their favorite characters.
Milk carton puzzle
Let’s make a hexahedral puzzle where different animals appear as you flip it open and shut! Use four milk cartons to create four square boxes, paste illustrations on them, and connect the four boxes in order.
Each time you flip a box, a different animal appears—it’s a very cute toy.
[Educational] Spark and nurture curiosity: Simple and fun handmade toys (11–20)
Toys made from toilet paper rolls
Let’s try making various toys using toilet paper rolls.
You can decorate them with origami and washi tape, cut slits to stack and play with them like building blocks, attach rubber bands to the slits to make instrument-like toys, or draw vehicles and thread a string through to pull them—each is easy to make.
Squishy Donuts
Let’s make a baby grasping toy: a squishy donut.
All you have to do is sew the fabric right sides together and stuff it with cotton.
Even without a sewing machine, it’s easy to hand-sew.
If you place a bell inside the stuffing, it will make a sound when shaken, which will make it even more interesting for the baby.
Sparkly maracas
These are sparkling maracas made from empty capsule toy containers.
Attach a hair elastic to the empty container with a zip tie, put beads or small bells inside, close the lid, and secure it firmly with tape—that’s it! Babies will enjoy the rattling sound, and they could also be useful for little kids’ performances or playtime events.
trick picture
It looks like a drawing of a cute character, but when you open it up, the picture changes—it’s a trick (transforming) drawing.
Fold the paper neatly, draw your illustration, and add color.
Then open the paper and try drawing the hidden picture that creates the trick.
In the flap-fold trick drawing, try featuring lots of characters that children love.