[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 (41–50)
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.
[Daycare] Handmade Toys That Delight Infants (51–60)
Hatena Box
Let’s make a fun toy that looks like it could be in a Mario game! Keep the lid of a formula can open, and attach a drain cover that fits the opening by flipping it upside down over the top.
Since your baby will be putting their hand through it, be sure to use a soft silicone drain cover.
Draw a question mark on the surface of the can and decorate it however you like—that’s it! Put small toys or snacks inside and have your baby guess what’s in there, or let them pull out cards that match a sample picture.
Because they can’t see the contents, it helps develop your baby’s imagination.
Tall Poppo playing by pulling a chain
This is a toy that uses a wrap core, imagining it as a cute character called Noppo-san.
Thread a chain through the hollow center of the core so you can enjoy the sensation of pulling it.
First, wrap white tape around the part of the core that will become the face.
Using that section as the center, wrap tape in your favorite colors above it to look like hair and below it to look like clothing.
Next, cut out facial features from tape and stick them onto the face area.
Finally, pass the chain through the hollow and secure it—that’s it! You can add hands or dress Noppo-san in patterns you like to make them extra cute.
Paku-Paku Bear
Pakupaku Kuma-san: a bear face sewn onto a large piece of felt with a zipper for its mouth.
Next to the bear, items like rice balls, bread, eggs, and vegetables are attached with snap buttons.
You can unfasten them and feed them to the bear—it’s a toy, right? The actions of unbuttoning and buttoning seem helpful for developing fine motor skills, and seeing the bear eagerly eat everything might spark children’s interest in food, making them think, “I want to try the same thing,” or “I wonder what it tastes like?”
Fruit Concentration
These are felt cards you can use to play Concentration (Memory)! You can choose any motifs you like—fruits, vehicles, animals, anything is fine.
However, since Concentration is a game where you match pairs of identical cards, be sure to make two cards of each design.
Cut felt into card shapes and either glue or sew the motifs onto them.
If you’re making everything out of felt, it’s efficient to layer the same fabric and cut two identical pieces at once to save time.
If you want to keep things simple, you could also use store-bought appliqués and just stick them on.
Mike
For kids who love to sing, a toy microphone is a great recommendation.
If you make it with felt, it won’t break if dropped and the risk of injury is low, so it’s a safe choice.
Create the handle and the microphone head with felt, and stuff the inside with fabric scraps or cotton.
Adding a ribbon or other accents would make it extra cute.
You can buy both felt and cotton at 100-yen shops, so try making it in your favorite colors.
Once it’s finished, sing using your microphone—you’ll enjoy a fresh, exciting feeling!
A toy you pull and use with your fingertips
This is a toy made by poking holes in a plastic wrap core and threading a string or an elastic with beads through it so that children can pull and play.
It’s very simple, but it seems like an idea that even young babies who are still lying down can enjoy.
It also looks great for developing the hand and finger skills of 1- to 2-year-olds.
It’s easy to make! Decorate the plastic wrap core cutely with origami paper, construction paper, or masking tape, then thread and secure string, elastic, and beads you can buy at a dollar store.
If you’re using string, make two holes at the same height and thread a slightly longer string through so it can be pulled from both sides for extra fun.