[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)
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.
A fabric picture book you assemble
This is a fabric picture book you can assemble.
What that means is, when you turn the page you’ll see felt shapes that don’t look like much at first, but if you put them together in the right order, they become a bag, a cup, or a lunch box! It’s a picture book, but the 3D, hands-on play is what makes it so fun.
You can put a cake on a plate and drink juice from a cup, or pack sausages, vegetables, and fruit into a lunch box—perfect for pretend play.
You can also swap out the cake and foods with your own creative ideas!
[Daycare] Handmade Toys That Delight Infants (81–90)
Picture matching
This is a game where you can experience the sensation of magnets sticking together and the satisfaction of matching pictures.
Let’s make a picture-matching toy that also supports children’s development.
First, divide the inside of a tablet-shaped candy container into three sections, insert magnets, and put on the lid.
Next, attach the illustrations for matching onto the tablet.
The key is to attach two of the same illustration.
After sticking illustrations on both the front and back, secure them with packing tape.
Then draw a frame on a whiteboard and add markers, and you’re done.
Try making this toy that lets you enjoy the sound of the magnets moving.
picture book
How about making a cloth picture book for babies out of felt? You can find colorful felt at 100-yen shops and craft stores, so try cutting, pasting, and sewing it to match your vision.
You can recreate a picture book your child loves, or add interactive elements they can play with.
There are many kinds of mechanisms: for example, motifs that can be peeled off with hook-and-loop tape, parts that fasten with buttons, and classics like puzzles or matching games.
fishing
A fishing game is a fun activity where the thrill comes from the “I caught one!” moment.
Prepare pictures of fish, octopuses, and other sea creatures using free illustrations, hand-drawn art, or coloring pages—whatever you like.
Make them together with the kids and have fun.
Then coat them with laminating film from a 100-yen shop.
Next, attach paper clips to the laminated pieces.
After that, tie a string to a pair of chopsticks and attach a magnet to the end, and you’re done! It’s a simple setup where the paper clips stick to the magnet, but it’s so much fun when you catch a lot.
Be sure to play it a lot with the kids!
baby gym
With just tubular cushions and hula hoop parts, you can make a DIY baby gym! Assemble the hula hoops into half-moon shapes, cross them in the center, and tie them together with string to secure.
Wrap tubular cushions around the legs and tape them in place, then attach items that attract children’s interest—like stuffed animals or bells—and you’re done in no time! What children find interesting changes one after another.
Being able to easily swap out the hanging items to match their changing interests is one of the unique benefits of making it yourself, don’t you think?
