Lovely childcare

Fun! A collection of handmade toy ideas made from Styrofoam

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

Do you have any Styrofoam at home?

You might not buy it very often, but it’s actually closer to you than you think—like the food trays that hold fish or meat, or the cushioning material that comes with purchases.

Even if you don’t have any around, you can easily get some at 100-yen shops nowadays, where they sell colored Styrofoam and pieces in various shapes.

In this article, we introduce how to make a fun toy, so be sure to give it a try!

Interesting! A collection of handmade toy ideas made with Styrofoam (11–20)

snow globe

I tried making a snow globe without using any liquid [Handy life hack Christmas DIY]

snow globe

Snow globes, with their tiny worlds moving inside, are so magical.

This time, we’re introducing an idea for a snow globe that uses Styrofoam instead of liquid to create falling snow! For the outer container, prepare one plastic container like the kind used for cakes sold at convenience stores.

Use glue to secure your favorite figurines or parts inside the container, add fine Styrofoam beads, and close the lid—that’s it! If you build up static electricity with something like a plastic sheet and bring it close to the snow globe, the snow inside will flutter and dance—it’s super fun!

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Mini ranch diorama

[Horse Figure] Create a Mini Ranch Diorama with a Grass Applicator!

Mini ranch diorama

Let’s make a miniature horse diorama.

First, cut the Styrofoam to fit the display box.

Then apply plaster, paint it, lay down the grass, and place trees, stones, and flowers.

Finally, set the horse figurine wherever you like, and it’s complete! This idea suggests a landscape reminiscent of a pasture, but feel free to create any scene you prefer.

A tool called a grass applicator is used to make the grass stand upright, and green powder is sprinkled on to add variation to the grass.

The attention to detail is so fine that it looks like a real landscape!

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In conclusion

We introduced lots of toy ideas you can make with styrofoam. Since it’s a lightweight material, it can float on water or fly through the air, and because it’s a fun material different from paper, you’ll find yourself totally absorbed while making things! If you found a toy that caught your interest, be sure to try making it and have fun playing with it!