Play equipment that delights children. Toys and play tools that can be enjoyed from early childhood.
We’ve put together a collection of play items that kids will love!
We’ll introduce lots of toys and play gear that both boys and girls can enjoy, so use this guide to make trips to the park more fun, fill downtime on camping trips, or keep kids entertained indoors on bad-weather days.
In addition to gift-worthy items, there are plenty of affordable playthings that are easy to find at 100-yen shops and similar stores.
Even though they’re from 100-yen shops, the quality is surprisingly high, making them perfect when you want to try something a little new!
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- Play ideas kids can enjoy from 1st to 6th grade [indoors & outdoors]
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- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
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- [Childcare] Recommended for toddlers! Toy ideas you can make and play with
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Playthings Kids Love: Toys and Play Equipment for Toddlers and Up (21–30)
cake
Here’s an idea for felt cakes you can use for pretend play.
Basically, make a pattern for the cake shape you want, then cut the felt to match and sew it together.
You could make several slice-shaped shortcakes that combine into a whole cake for easier play.
Place a piece of cardboard on the bottom of each cake, then stuff it with cotton and sew it closed.
For the cream, cut the felt into a pinwheel shape and sew it so the tips gather tightly—this will make it look realistic.
After that, add your preferred toppings, like cream layers in the cross-section and strawberries!
Simple chopstick gun
This is a very simple chopstick rubber-band gun you can make with just two pairs of disposable chopsticks.
Clamp the tip of one chopstick set with the tip of the other and secure them with a rubber band.
At this point, use both chopsticks un-split, just as they are.
That’s actually all there is to the assembly! Then hook a rubber band onto the tip to set it, and slowly tilt the clamped chopstick diagonally like a trigger—the rubber band will launch.
Since you don’t need scissors, a cutter, glue, or anything else, it’s perfect for a craft project with small children.
Give it a try!
Play equipment that delights children. Tools and toys for play that even toddlers can enjoy (31–40)
Snake cube
Popular as an educational toy, the Snake Cube is a toy that lets you create various shapes by twisting a cube made of small tetrahedral or cubic parts.
As its name suggests, you can wiggle it like a snake to make all kinds of shapes—rockets, balls, hearts, flamingos, and more! For those who enjoy puzzles, it’s the perfect way to pass the time.
Since the difficulty varies depending on what you make, why not start by challenging yourself to transform it from its long, rod-like state into a cohesive form like a large cube?
tape ball
The tape ball that went viral in videos by famous influencers and creators! Many of you have probably thought, “I’ve never made one, but I’ve seen it countless times in videos,” right? You roll up only the adhesive side of vinyl tape, layering it over and over and shaping it into a ball.
If you use a few different colors, you’ll see beautiful layers when you make the final cut! If you score the side with a utility knife, multiple layers of tape will seem to burst out from the inside like a living creature! Thanks to its massive popularity, there are even “tape ball–specific tapes” on the market now, so give it a try.
felt ball
Here’s a felt ball idea! First, prepare your favorite felt and cut out 12 pentagons.
Sew them together with the right sides facing inward, turn it right side out, stuff it with cotton, and stitch it closed—that’s it! If you use felt in various colors, you’ll get a colorful ball, and it’s also a great idea to sew on characters kids love onto the pentagon pieces.
Classics might be Anpanman or Pokémon.
Animals or vehicles would surely be adorable, too!
Pop tube
Pop tubes are fun, corrugated plastic tubes you can bend and play with! Every time you fold them, the oddly satisfying “pop” and “crackle” sounds and tactile feel become addictive—perfect for passing the time.
Thinner tubes make higher-pitched sounds, while thicker tubes produce lower ones, so it’s fun to collect a few types and enjoy the differences.
Their simple design makes them safe and easy to play with, so they’re great for enjoying with kids, too.
Why not try them as a stress-relief tool as well?
picture book
How about making a cloth picture book for babies out of felt? You can find colorful felt at 100-yen shops and craft stores, so try cutting, pasting, and sewing it to match your vision.
You can recreate a picture book your child loves, or add interactive elements they can play with.
There are many kinds of mechanisms: for example, motifs that can be peeled off with hook-and-loop tape, parts that fasten with buttons, and classics like puzzles or matching games.
In conclusion
How did you like the toys that delight children? There were lots of options—things you can play with together with friends or family, and things you can focus on and enjoy alone.
All of the items are easy to get, so if you found something you haven’t tried before, take this opportunity to pick it up.
Children have rich imaginations, so they might use these tools to invent new games and surprise the adults!