[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 (1–10)
tug play
This is a simple toy you can make quickly with just some cardboard and a few strings.
Prepare several strings of different lengths, punch holes in the cardboard, thread the strings through, and tie knots at the ends so they won’t pull out.
Seen from the front, children can’t tell how long the strings are, which piques their interest and makes them want to pull on them a lot.
Try decorating the edges of the cardboard with colorful tape, changing the string colors, and adding stickers to the empty areas of the cardboard to make it cute.
Swirly roll
This toy is like an extension of a prank where you keep unrolling toilet paper.
Toilet paper is just paper, but in this case, each section you pull out has different colors and patterns, which makes it even more intriguing and makes you want to keep pulling.
It’s easy to make: simply join colorful pieces of felt together and attach them to a cling-film core or similar tube.
You can also mix in leftover fabric scraps or character-print cloth along with the felt to make a toy that’s even more engaging.
rattle
Let’s try making a handmade rattle that babies love.
We’ll use a small empty plastic bottle.
Use an awl to make a hole in the cap, thread some fishing line through, and attach strung beads so they hang down through the hole.
Fill the bottle with beads, bells, or other small items that make noise when shaken.
Close the cap, place a sticker over the spot where the fishing line passes through, and secure the sticker and the bottle’s neck with tape—that’s it! It’s a fun rattle that makes a cheerful sound and looks colorful and cute.
[Daycare] Handmade Toys That Delight Infants (11–20)
rolling toy
We’ll make a fun toy that you can roll around using a cardboard core from packing tape.
Decorate the inside of the core with illustrated paper, stickers, or anything you like.
For both ends, use lids from empty plastic containers as caps; before sealing them, add items that make sounds or look fun when rolled—like beads, bells, or pom-poms.
Wrap the outside with colored tape.
Making a few variations will make it even more enjoyable!
Rolling Slope
Korokoro Slope is a toy where balls roll merrily down ramps, captivating everyone who watches.
It might seem a bit elaborate, but it’s perfect if you’re thinking of a toy that several children can enjoy together, such as in a daycare.
Make the base from cardboard and the slopes from milk cartons.
For the rolling balls, use empty capsule toy containers; put different items inside—like bells or finely cut pieces of straws—so the sound changes depending on the ball, making it even more fun.
Dropping-in game
Here’s an idea to make a DIY “drop-in toy” (potton-otoshi) based on babies’ favorite game of dropping things.
You often see store-bought versions of this toy, where you drop objects into openings, but it’s easy to make at home with everyday items.
Just cut holes in the lid of a tall plastic storage container or an empty box, match them with plastic bottle caps, and tape them in place.
You can also add creative touches, like drawing illustrations on the container or putting beads inside the bottle caps to make sounds.
Milk carton puppet
Let’s make a cute puppet that opens and closes its mouth using a milk carton! Cut slits on both sides of the carton, fold them outward, and push in the bottom part—this completes the mouth-opening mechanism.
Draw your favorite animal or character on the folded parts and make the mouth chatter.
Children can hold and play with it, but it’s also fun for adults to hold the puppet and tell stories or have conversations.
Try making several puppets and create a fun story with a variety of characters!