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! (1–10)
Bamboo string telephone
A tin can telephone is a device that transmits the vibrations of your voice through a string, letting you enjoy a conversation over a distance.
It’s often made with paper cups, but you can make one with bamboo, too.
Prepare two bamboo pieces cut into tube shapes and cover one end of each with stiff paper or cardboard.
Punch a hole in the cardboard, thread the string through, and secure it so it won’t come loose.
You can decorate the bamboo and the cardboard with patterned origami paper or anything you like.
Since bamboo seems to block ambient noise better than paper cups, it might be easier to hear.
Give it a try and have fun experimenting!
Sticky with bamboo
Sticky is a toy where you stand multiple sticks inserted into a ring, then pull them out one by one in turn; the person who knocks the sticks over loses.
Let’s try making one out of bamboo! First, cut the bamboo to make a ring, then split the bamboo to create the sticks.
If children will use it, sand the bamboo to make it smooth so they don’t get hurt.
Since you’ll use tools to cut and split the bamboo, make sure an adult supervises when making it with children.
Kids will love it if you decorate the bamboo by drawing on it with a pen or wrapping it with washi tape or similar.
bamboo ring
When we think of bamboo, we often imagine it as being hard, but bamboo skewers are surprisingly flexible and easy to use as a craft material.
Here’s an idea for making a ring using just one bamboo skewer.
Hold one end of the skewer between your thumb and index finger, curl it around, and form two adjacent loops.
Thread the end of the skewer through the gap between the two loops, then swap the positions of the loops left and right—repeat this to continue weaving.
Once you’ve completed one round, pull both ends to adjust the size.
Tuck the remaining length into the section you just wove and make a second round to finish!
Let's make fun toys with sturdy bamboo! (11–20)
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 pinwheel
This is a pinwheel woven from slender bamboo splints that you can also enjoy watching spin when it catches the wind.
Once you’ve prepared bamboo splints of the same length, you only need to weave them and attach the parts, so it can be made safely.
The weaving process builds up a core in the center, and the staggered ends of the splints that protrude outward are what ultimately generate the rotation.
Attach parts at the tips to catch the wind and add an axle for stable spinning to complete the piece.
Focus on weaving evenly and finely to maintain concentration.
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.