[Daycare/Preschool] Handmade toys that delight infants
Infants grow and change so quickly, don’t they?
The kinds of play they’re interested in vary with each developmental stage.
Constantly buying new toys to keep up can be tough!
If that sounds like you, this is a must-read.
Today, we’re sharing ideas for handmade toys that babies will love.
We’ve packed in ideas that stimulate children’s five senses—sound, shape, and texture—to spark their curiosity.
They’re all made from everyday materials, so they’re easy on the budget too.
Another perk of handmade toys is that you can adjust colors, designs, and sizes to suit each child’s personality.
Why not try making toys that your little ones will love to play with, while also enjoying the warmth that only handmade items can offer?
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[Daycare] Handmade Toys That Delight Infants (71–80)
Swirl it up with plastic wrap
The wrap whirl toy is charming for its unique look.
The method is simple: first, prepare the core from a roll of plastic wrap.
Next, apply masking tape along the cut line on the core.
Finally, stick on a different-colored masking tape in the same manner, and it’s done.
Try finishing it with an image like a barber’s pole sign.
When you roll it, the two lines appear to intertwine, which is sure to catch the eye.
It can also be fun to roll it in front of a baby.
A toy that’s fun to put things into
Here’s an introduction to a fun, handmade toy that lets you drop balls in over and over.
Cut off the bottom of a plastic bottle with a utility knife, then make a hole in the middle large enough for a ball to pass through.
Use tape to cover the edges of the middle hole.
Since children will put their hands in, make sure there are no sharp edges.
Next, cut the bottom of a zippered laundry net with scissors and attach it to the plastic bottle.
And that’s it—the toy is complete! It’s also cute if you add a face around the ball entrance.
A toy with many ways to play when cut into small pieces
Cut a paper wrap core into five pieces and wrap them with felt to make a toy.
To prevent injuries from the cut edges, please cover them with masking tape or something similar.
Basically, once you cut and attach the felt, it’s done, but it could be fun to write numbers on them or add hook-and-loop fasteners so the cores stick together.
You can also prepare a string to enjoy threading, use them like building blocks, or connect them all to pretend they’re a train.
It’s a simple toy, but there are many ways to play with it!
rod threading
Cut pool noodles into various widths and try threading them onto a rod.
Prepare several colors as well.
Deep, focused play is an important experience for children.
It’s a simple activity that offers many discoveries—like figuring out how many pieces are needed to stack up to the height of the rod, and how different color combinations look.
Because it’s hard to do this activity with friends sharing one setup, be sure to have enough rods for threading.
Watching children absorbed in play is one of the joys of being a teacher, too.
Choice Scarf
It’s a toy where scarves come out of a milk can one after another, like a magic trick.
Remove the lid from the milk can and cover it with a bag-shaped piece of cloth.
Adjust it so that the opening in the milk can lines up with the opening of the cloth.
Tie the ends of the scarves together and place them inside the milk can.
That’s it—ready to go! Leave a small end of a scarf sticking out, and then let your baby keep pulling them out one after another.
Your baby is sure to be delighted as the scarves keep coming! It’s recommended to prepare as many scarves as possible.
Let’s make a puzzle with a milk carton
If you want to make a puzzle using items you have at home, why not try making one with milk cartons? Here are two types of puzzles.
The first is a puzzle where you match colors and patterns.
Connect three ring-shaped milk carton loops and rotate them to form a square, matching the colors and patterns as you play.
The second uses four block-shaped milk cartons connected together to complete a picture by aligning the pieces.
Both are great ideas for infants and toddlers, so give them a try!
Milk carton building blocks
How about using milk cartons to make building blocks for two-year-olds who are starting to get interested in letters? They’re simple to make: just fasten the milk cartons with packing tape and wrap them with construction paper.
Varying the colors and sizes or adding numbers will really capture a two-year-old’s interest.
It’s great to make plenty so they can play imaginatively.
If you stuff the milk cartons, the blocks become sturdier and less likely to break, so keep that in mind when making them.