[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 (101–110)
maracas microphone
Let’s make a realistic-looking microphone using a plastic wrap core! You’ll use half of a core, so please cut it in advance.
First, glue origami paper onto the wrap core, and on the side where the paper overhangs, tape a short piece of yarn to the inside of the core.
Then crumple the excess origami paper and push it inward to form a rounded shape.
Finally, tape a capsule toy container to the opposite end to complete your microphone! It’s also cute if you put beads inside the container so it makes a sound.
Enjoy karaoke at home with your very own mic!
Bowling with bottles of lactic acid bacteria drinks
Here’s a small and cute bowling game you can make using lactic acid drink bottles.
Since the bottles themselves are small, you can even play on a tabletop! After rinsing out the contents, decorate the bottles however you like.
For the ball, try using a wad of newspaper or other paper rolled into a ball, or make a DIY ball by combining strips cut from a paper carton.
It only takes a light touch to play, so it’s enjoyable not only for children but also for older adults.
Gather some lactic acid drink bottles and give it a try!
kite flying
Kite flying, soaring through the sky on the wind, is one of children’s favorite wind-play activities.
Why not try feeling the breeze up close with a quick DIY kite made from A4 copy paper? First, fold the paper into thirds lengthwise.
Unfold it once, then fold it into fourths horizontally.
Use those crease lines to form a hexagon and attach straw spars for the frame.
Cut a toothpick into roughly 1 cm pieces to use as weights, tape them on, and tie on a string to finish.
This kite flies very well, and because it’s compact, it’s great not only outdoors but also for indoor play!
cloth picture book
Why not try making a fabric picture book inspired by Anpanman? Fabric books are a staple toy for babies.
They often crinkle, include features that promote finger development, and pack in all kinds of clever ideas.
Let’s try making one by hand.
With your own ideas—like a buttoning activity using Anpanman’s face, peekaboo flaps or matching games with various characters—you can create a delightful fabric book.
If you’re not confident at sewing, using felt and glue to craft it like an art project is a great recommendation!
Making toys from scrap materials
Let’s make toys using items that were going to be thrown away, like clear folders and paper cups.
If the teachers bring things from home, you might discover some unexpected materials.
Draw pictures on a clear folder with a permanent marker and it transforms into a material that sticks to walls like in the bath! It would be great to make them at the daycare and have the children play with them at home.
By making crafts that incorporate the children’s ideas, you’ll likely create lovely toys they feel attached to.
Another nice point is that crafting with recycled materials can be done indoors anytime!
