[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)
Strikeout you can play at home
It would be fun to play “Struck Out,” the game you often see on variety shows, at home! Here’s an easy DIY idea using felt.
Use adhesive felt to make the numbers 1–9 and stick each one onto separate pieces of felt.
Next, evenly attach the numbered felt pieces to a large felt sheet, flip it over, and fix a rod to the areas with double-sided tape.
You can also decorate it with any leftover felt! For the balls, wrap hook-and-loop (Velcro) tape around ping-pong balls.
Hang the board from a hook and play by throwing the balls at it.
Try customizing the rules, like deciding how many balls each player can throw and competing by the total of the numbers they hit!
[Daycare] Handmade Toys That Delight Infants (51–60)
A dog on a walk
How about making a “Walk-along Puppy” as a play companion? You can handcraft it using a paper carton.
First, make a cut at about one-third of the height of the carton.
If you leave one side uncut, you’ll create a mechanism that lets the head bob up and down.
Next, attach a bell inside the carton and cover the outside with colored construction paper.
Then, make a slit at the head section and attach webbing tape to serve as the walking leash.
After that, place an unopened pack of air-dry clay in the body as a weight, and seal the cut edge of the carton to finish.
Make several so everyone can play together!
Sticky building blocks
How about making magnetic building blocks that stick together? First, prepare some plastic bottle caps and magnets.
Glue a magnet to the inside of each cap, then stack caps together and screw them closed.
Repeat this process.
Kids will find it exciting to see the pieces attract or repel when stacked, and they’re sure to enjoy it.
Another perk is that you can build in ways that aren’t possible with regular blocks.
One caution: it’s dangerous if put in the mouth, so please be careful.
Educational toy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Would you like to make The Very Hungry Caterpillar out of felt, a character children adore? It’s a great educational toy for little ones—they can move the caterpillar, and practice fastening and unfastening buttons.
Start by making the caterpillar’s face and attach the first body segment with a snap fastener.
Then add buttons and buttonholes so kids can freely rearrange the rest.
It’s fun to watch the body wiggle just like a real caterpillar.
If you have a sewing machine, making the buttonholes is easy, but you can sew them by hand, too.
Chomp Chomp Castanets
Let’s handcraft castanets—star performers in any ensemble—using a milk carton.
Cut the milk carton into pieces sized for the top and bottom parts of the castanets, and glue construction paper on the outside.
From here, it’s the kids’ turn! Have them freely draw animals or their favorite characters on the construction paper.
Tearing paper for collage or decorating with stickers will also make it look great.
Next, use an awl to make holes, thread a chenille stem (pipe cleaner) cut to a length that fits a finger, and attach plastic bottle caps on the inside so they make a clicking sound.
Your original castanets are complete!
bodkin (drawstring threader)
Two-year-olds are becoming more dexterous and can concentrate on tasks that use their fingertips.
A perfect activity for this stage is “stringing.” First, make motifs from milk cartons in your child’s favorite colors and shapes.
After cutting them into the shapes you like, cover them with felt or add patterns, and make plenty of pieces.
Next, punch holes in the motifs with a hole punch.
Prepare a string of suitable length, tape one end with cellophane tape to make threading easier, and you’re done! Have fun threading the string through the motifs to connect them together.
fluffy ghost
Let’s make a fluffy 3D ghost with a pop-out face! First, decorate a paper cup with stickers and markers.
Next, draw the ghost’s facial expression on a clear plastic bag, poke a hole in the cup, and insert a straw through it.
Pull the bag over the straw, blow air into it to inflate, and you’re done.
The fun part is watching the ghost’s face gradually puff up.
You can prepare lots of sticker varieties or adjust the size of the bag for different effects.
It’s a hands-on craft idea that lets kids learn through play while using their fine motor skills.
