[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!
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[Childcare] Recommended for toddlers! Toy ideas you can make and play with (111–120)
milk carton
This is a spinning top made from an opened milk carton, with four wings spread out in all directions.
As you cut each wing, try to keep them the same size and aim for a shape that spins more easily.
To improve spin, cut the tips of the wings at an angle and attach a plastic bottle cap in the center as the axle.
It’s recommended to build it with the inside (white side) of the carton facing up, as it makes pen decorations easier.
To keep the wings straight and stable, you can also reinforce them by layering thick paper or cardboard.
milk carton car
Here’s an idea for a milk carton car that you can actually ride and enjoy.
This project uses a plant stand with casters and milk cartons to make a vehicle.
Once the base is complete, cover it with felt and decorate it.
The visual design is up to you, but it’s a good idea to use popular characters as motifs.
You could also model it after an Anpanman car.
By the way, the plant stand with casters can be purchased at a 100-yen shop.
It’s a very cost-effective idea, don’t you think?
Ball-toss game
Let’s make a ball-toss game using only paper! The steps are very simple.
First, accordion-fold a sheet of construction paper, then fold it in half like a fan and secure the middle with tape.
Attach one side of the fan upright to a paper plate, and on the opposite upper side, cut a small slit so a ring can catch onto it easily.
Finally, make a ring by looping a long, thin strip of construction paper and hook it into the slit—now it’s ready.
Press the accordion firmly with your hand and release; the ring will spring and fly off.
Place a deep paper plate or a box where you want to aim, and everyone can take turns launching the ring to try to land it inside! It looks simple but is trickier than it seems—kids are sure to get hooked!
Dreamland with a magnet
Learn about magnets while having fun crafting! Here’s a magnetic Dreamland idea.
The charm of this project is that you can make a mysterious, entertaining toy that moves using capsules and magnets.
You’ll need origami paper, a white board, construction paper, magnets, empty gashapon capsules, poster paper, a color wave sheet, glue, scissors, and pens.
Draw roads on the board and decorate with construction paper and the color wave sheet.
Put a car illustration on an empty capsule and place a magnet inside—then it’s done! Move the capsule with the car illustration by guiding a magnet from the back of the board!
Magnet UFO
Unpredictable! Irregular motion is fascinating! Here’s an idea for a magnetic unidentified flying object.
What comes to mind when you hear “UFO”? Some people might imagine round lights or being taken away in a bright beam.
The charm of this UFO is its irregular movement.
Let’s make a toy with addictive, unique motion by taking advantage of magnets’ properties! If there’s any chance a child might swallow a magnet, make sure a parent or teacher is always supervising nearby.
Marble rolling with a paper plate
How about making a marble run that kids will be obsessed with? First, draw circles on a paper plate to match the size of the marbles and cut them out.
To keep the marbles from falling through, glue construction paper on the back of the holes to create marble pockets.
Finally, cut straws into random lengths and stick them freely onto the paper plate to form paths for the marbles—that’s it! It’s also fun to decorate the plate by drawing pictures or adding stickers.
Depending on how the straws are arranged, you can create all kinds of marble runs that showcase each child’s personality.
You can play with your own carefully crafted piece or swap with friends and play.
It’s a toy that will have you forgetting the time as you play to your heart’s content.
Picture matching cards
Here’s an introduction to a memory-boosting toy: matching picture cards.
These are cards made with felt, featuring different characters.
The cards come in pairs and are played like Concentration.
It’s fun to design lots of popular characters like Jam Uncle and Dokin-chan.
You’re free to choose which characters to include, so why not research which ones the children like? By the way, using felt from a 100-yen shop is perfectly fine.