Let's make fun toys with sturdy bamboo!
This time, we’d like to introduce some fun toys you can make and play with using bamboo.
Playing with bamboo toys enriches children’s curiosity and their ability to imagine and play creatively.
Bamboo toys are also very sturdy, so they’re hard to break and easy to play with—that’s a key feature!
Since they don’t contain chemicals, they’re gentle on both the environment and on children.
Be sure to take the kids to a spacious area and try playing with the toys you’ve made.
And when making them, please help the children with any parts that are difficult for them.
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Let's make fun toys with sturdy bamboo! (11–20)
bamboo clogs
This toy consists of two sets of bamboo cross-sections with strings attached.
You place your feet on the bamboo, hold the strings, and walk, enjoying the unique sensations in your feet.
Cut the bamboo to the same width for a steady stride, and be mindful of the string length so it fits snugly to the feet as you make it.
The width of the bamboo and the length of the strings will affect not only how easy it is to walk but also the sensation transmitted to the feet, so it’s recommended to try various patterns.
As you proceed, offer advice on which parts of the body to engage and what posture helps maintain stable walking.
stilts
This is a toy where you attach board parts to long bamboo poles, hold them, and aim to walk with your feet placed on the boards.
Because it’s a toy that lets you enjoy the sensation of balancing, safety is especially important: use sturdy bamboo of uniform size, and make sure the footrests are assembled strongly.
The longer the bamboo, the harder it is to keep your balance after stepping on, so it’s recommended to build it in a size suited to the user.
Think about ways to enhance stability to make it safer and more secure.
bamboo fan
Why not try making a bamboo uchiwa fan to keep cool in the hot summer? First, dye shoji paper with diluted paint, then sandwich it between sheets of newspaper to absorb the excess paint.
Open it slowly and let it dry so it doesn’t tear.
If you fold the shoji paper into squares a few times and let several colors soak in, it will turn out nice and colorful.
Make the handle and frame from bamboo, attach the dyed shoji paper to it, and shape it—then you’re done! You can also make stars, hearts, and other shapes with the same dyed-paper method and stick them on for a cute touch.
bamboo bow and arrow
Boys tend to like toy weapons they can use for pretend battles.
Besides swords and guns, they probably like bows and arrows too, right? So let’s try making a large bow and arrow using bamboo.
Choose bamboo that’s thin and flexible.
Cut the bamboo to the length you want for the bow, then make a notch at each end with a utility knife.
Fit a string into both notches and wrap it to secure it, and the bow is complete.
For the arrow, make a notch on one end as well so the string can catch easily.
Bows and arrows are fun, but always make sure no one is around before you play.
bamboo snake
How about making a snake toy out of bamboo? Prepare six pieces of bamboo cut to the same length: use four for the body and the remaining two for the head and tail.
It takes some work to process the bamboo so you can connect the pieces, but stay patient and keep at it.
Once the processing is done, paint the bamboo and connect the parts.
Make sure to allow a range of motion so the toy can sway from side to side.
Add eyes and a long tongue to the head to make it look snakelike, and feel free to draw any patterns you like.
You can also use real snakes as a reference for your design.
In conclusion
Do you have any memories of playing with bamboo toys in your childhood? This time, we introduced warm, handmade bamboo toys that I think many of you have seen or touched at least once. These days, you can find wonderful toys at department stores, but in the past, we made our own toys and played while expanding our imagination. Bamboo is light yet strong, and it doesn’t break easily—even when bent. Bamboo toys are really durable! We introduced various nostalgic toys made of bamboo, so try making them and have fun playing with them!