[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] Spark and nurture curiosity. Simple, fun DIY toys (31–40)
Dreamland with a magnet
Learn about magnets while having fun crafting! Here’s a magnetic Dreamland idea.
The charm of this project is that you can make a mysterious, entertaining toy that moves using capsules and magnets.
You’ll need origami paper, a white board, construction paper, magnets, empty gashapon capsules, poster paper, a color wave sheet, glue, scissors, and pens.
Draw roads on the board and decorate with construction paper and the color wave sheet.
Put a car illustration on an empty capsule and place a magnet inside—then it’s done! Move the capsule with the car illustration by guiding a magnet from the back of the board!
Magnet and pipe cleaner toy
Let me introduce a toy using magnets and pipe cleaners.
Prepare an empty 6-piece cheese box, bottle caps, pipe cleaners, a plastic sheet, drawing paper, string, clear tape, vinyl tape, and glue, and let’s make it.
Line the inside of the empty cheese box with drawing paper to create the base.
Cut the plastic sheet into a circle to make a window.
Choose the colors of the pipe cleaners, cut them to length, and place them inside the cheese box to get ready.
Put a magnet inside a bottle cap, and tape two caps together with vinyl tape so the magnet won’t fall out.
Make a hole in the cap, thread the string through, and create the magnetic part that will move the pipe cleaners.
By holding the magnet against the outside of the cheese box, the pipe cleaners inside gather and move, making it a fun toy to play with!
Magnet UFO
Unpredictable! Irregular motion is fascinating! Here’s an idea for a magnetic unidentified flying object.
What comes to mind when you hear “UFO”? Some people might imagine round lights or being taken away in a bright beam.
The charm of this UFO is its irregular movement.
Let’s make a toy with addictive, unique motion by taking advantage of magnets’ properties! If there’s any chance a child might swallow a magnet, make sure a parent or teacher is always supervising nearby.
Bug-catching toy
We’ll introduce how to make a bug-catching toy.
Get construction paper, magnets, straws, paper clips, glue, and some netting ready.
Cut colored construction paper into circles and assemble them into bugs.
Attach one paper clip to each bug and secure it with cellophane tape so it won’t come off.
Next, let’s make the bug-catching net.
Cut a ring out of thick paper and remove the center.
Thread the netting through the ring and staple it in place.
Make the handle out of a straw and attach it securely, then glue on a magnet, and you’re done! Have fun seeing how many bug cards you can catch.
In conclusion
We introduced some simple handmade toys. What did you think? Most of the materials can be found at home or at a 100-yen shop, and the steps are easy! Maybe many of you felt, “I could try this!” This is a great chance to enjoy crafting with your child. Through play and hands-on experiences, let’s keep nurturing your child’s curiosity!