[Childcare] Recommended for toddlers! Toy ideas you can make and play with
Toys you can make and play with can be created from everyday materials if you match them to your child’s age and interests.
Through crafting, kids can have fun, grow attached to what they make, and even find opportunities to communicate with friends.
Here, we’ll introduce simple, easy-to-make toy ideas for toddlers.
There are plenty of options for indoor play and for enjoying outside!
Many can be made easily using familiar recyclable materials, so please use this as a reference and try making them together with your children!
- [For toddlers] Simple but amazing craft ideas — including toys they can play with
- Age 4: Simple and Fun! Handmade Toy Ideas
- [Nursery/Kindergarten] Crafts you can play with after making them
- Recommended for 5-year-olds! Simple DIY toy ideas
- Toddler-approved fun! DIY toy ideas for 2-year-olds
- [Childcare] Easy! Make a DIY target game. Playful craft and fun game
- [Childcare] Recommended for 3-year-olds! Craft activity ideas
- Paper cup crafts that elementary school kids will love! A collection of fun project ideas
- Make it with everyday materials! A collection of DIY toy ideas recommended for 1-year-olds
- An empty box becomes a toy! A collection of ideas for handmade toys
- Let’s make it with 3-year-olds! Fun handmade toy ideas
- [For 4-year-olds] Ideas for group games and craft activities that can be done indoors
- Fun crafts using straws
[Childcare] Recommended for toddlers! Toy ideas you can make and play with (91–100)
Decorating tambourines is fun
Here are some fun ideas for decorating tambourines.
You’ll need two paper plates, straws, scissors, tape, a pen, and masking tape.
Put the cut pieces of straw between the paper plates, press them together, and seal the edges with tape and masking tape—that’s it! Use pens in your favorite colors to draw expressions on the tambourine.
It’s also fun to give the front and back different expressions, like a smiling face on one side and a sleeping face on the other.
The simple method makes it easy for kids to follow, which is part of its charm!
Operation: Let the fish swim in the tray
Even kids who don’t like bath time might hop right in! Here’s the “Let’s Make Fish Swim on a Tray!” strategy.
Just draw fish with a permanent marker on the plastic trays that packaged meat or fish, cut them out, and you’re done! Float them in the bath and say, “There are fish swimming in the tub!” Wet trays stick to the bath wall, so besides fish, you can cut out letters for a little learning activity, or make your child’s favorite characters—lots of fun options! Try different tricks to make bath time enjoyable.
motorcycle
A ride-on bike made from milk cartons that little kids can actually sit on and play with! Just reinforce the milk cartons by stuffing them with newspaper, fix them into rectangular shapes, and assemble ten parts.
Attach felt to the bottom to prevent scratches, and use a plastic wrap core as the handle—this craft is full of clever ideas.
You can decorate it with colored tape or let your child freely add stickers—so cute! This easy-to-make ride-on is sure to be a big hit at preschools and kindergartens.
basket
Why not try making a basket out of construction paper? First, make a loop from a strip of construction paper.
Then prepare eight strips that are half the length of the paper used for the loop.
Cross two strips to form a plus sign and attach their ends to the outside of the loop.
Cross another two strips and attach them to fill the gaps.
Attach the remaining four strips in the same way, but this time, attach them to the inside of the loop.
Prepare two long strips and weave them through the gaps between the papers attached to the loop, alternating over, under, over.
Finally, add a handle and you’re done!
Marble Drop
Why not try making a marble drop inspired by Anpanman? The base will be a plastic bottle.
First, cut it into three equal sections, then insert a piece of thick paper between the sections and reassemble them.
Punch marble-drop holes in the thick paper and decorate it to evoke Anpanman.
You could also make the thick paper look like Anpanman’s or Baikinman’s face.
Once you add the marbles, it’s complete.
Its cute appearance and the sound of the marbles dropping will captivate children.
felt ball
Felt balls, which can be played with in many ways, are also recommended.
First, download a pentagon template from the internet and use it to cut cardboard.
Next, cut felt to match the pentagons you’ve made and embroider the characters on them.
Once you have 12 pieces, assemble them, stuff them with filling, and you’re done.
I hope you’ll play freely—roll it to see which character shows up or toss it in the air.
You can also put a bell inside to enjoy the sound.
playmat
Here’s an idea for a road play mat that you’ll want to make for a child who loves toy cars.
Sew roads made from gray felt onto a base of felt in your favorite color.
Then, add and sew on whatever you like—houses, trees, a police box, a hospital, bus stops, and more.
If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can skip the stitching and use glue to attach everything instead.
With a little creativity, you can make all kinds of play mats, so let your imagination run wild as you create.
Making a construction site where kids can play with work vehicles sounds fun, too!