[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 (21–30)
Spinning Drive
“Kurukuru Drive” is a toy that lets you use a paper towel roll as a road and drive a car along it.
It’s an irresistible idea for kids who love vehicles! First, sketch a road on the paper towel core.
Don’t forget to draw a start and a finish.
Once the drawing is done, color it in.
It’s even better if you add things like traffic lights and houses—it makes it feel more like real driving.
Finally, draw a car on a piece of plastic (vinyl) sized to fit the road’s width, color it, and wrap it around the paper towel core—that’s it! Line it up at the starting point and spin it to drive toward the goal!
milk can drum
Toys that make sounds are said to be effective for early childhood development.
So how about making a drum out of a milk can? First, prepare an empty milk can you no longer need, then decorate it by attaching a faux leather sheet to the bottom and a remake sheet to the sides.
Using a wood-grain patterned remake sheet will give it a more drum-like look.
Try playing together by beating it to music and have fun.
By the way, the tension of the faux leather sheet will change the sound.
[Daycare] Handmade Toys That Delight Infants (31–40)
Summer at-home fun you can get all at the 100-yen shop!
Everything you need from the 100-yen shop! Here are some ideas for summer play at home.
Have you heard of a sensory bag? It’s a pouch-like item used as a toy to stimulate children’s senses, letting them play while engaging their perception and sensations.
This time, let’s make a DIY sensory bag and play with it! You’ll need a vacuum/compression bag, decorative pom-poms, beads, and liquid laundry starch or school glue.
You can also add glitter for extra sparkle.
The cool, chilly feel makes it perfect for summer.
pull-along toy
Some gacha capsules come with a type that has four holes.
How about using one of those to make a pull toy? For this, thread a string into one hole of the capsule, bring it out through another hole, and tie it off.
This creates a toy where pulling one string makes the string in another hole get shorter.
That way, you can enjoy the pulling action while playing, without worrying about the string getting tangled somewhere.
You can also put beads inside the capsule to enjoy the sound as well.
Tambourine you can make with things at home
Here’s an idea for making a tambourine using items you have at home.
You’ll need a round container from a six-piece cheese pack, jingle bells, string, animal-themed templates, colored construction paper, origami paper, scissors, and glue or double-sided tape.
Even if children don’t recognize it as a musical instrument, this works as a special sound-making toy that infants can enjoy.
The cute animal motifs will spark children’s interest and curiosity.
Let’s make sounds freely and have fun playing along with music and rhythm!
Musical Instrument Crafting: Guitar
We’d like to introduce a DIY musical-instrument craft: a guitar you can play once it’s finished.
Prepare four paper cups, three rubber bands, a felt-tip pen, tape, and scissors.
First, place the bottoms of two paper cups together and secure them with tape so they don’t shift.
Next, make three slits in the rim of each of the remaining two paper cups.
Insert these slit cups onto the taped-together cups, and hook the three rubber bands onto the slits so they don’t cross over like an X.
Finally, pluck the rubber bands to check that they make sound—that’s it! The steps are simple, so give it a try!
Fishing for fish
Fishing is one of the most popular pastimes for children.
So why not try making various sea creatures out of felt? In addition to fish, kids might be delighted to have creatures you wouldn’t normally catch when fishing, like sharks, dolphins, and turtles.
If you put a material inside that sticks to a magnet, they can enjoy “catching” them with a rod that has a magnet on the end.
You can make them by layering and gluing felt, or stuff them with cotton to give them a three-dimensional shape—both are recommended.
Since they’re toys, be sure to make them colorful!