Did you know you can make all kinds of toys using milk cartons?
In this article, we’ll introduce milk carton toys that babies and toddlers will love!
Many households recycle milk cartons, but they’re also often reused for kids’ crafts.
You’ll frequently see toys made by teachers at daycare centers and kindergartens, too.
Milk carton toys are great for little ones who haven’t learned to control their strength yet, because if they break, you can quickly make a new one.
They’re really easy to make, so give it a try!
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Let's make toys with milk cartons! Simple and fun DIY crafts! (1–10)
rubber band gun
You can make a rubber band gun right away with just a rubber band and a stapler! Since the only cutting motion with the scissors is a straight vertical cut and there’s just one staple to put in, even kids can do it easily.
If you’re worried, you can have the children just draw on the pack.
There are lots of ways to enjoy it, like target practice or competing to see whose flies the farthest.
kaleidoscope
You can make a kaleidoscope using a milk carton and aluminum foil.
It’s a craft where you stick the foil onto the milk carton and enjoy the reflections of patterns drawn on construction paper.
Since the method for making the core involves firmly folding the milk carton, it might be difficult for small children.
If the child is very young, it may be best for an adult to prepare just the core in advance.
Cube puzzle
If you’re making something for slightly older kids, cube puzzles are a great choice.
Use the bottom half of milk cartons to make cubes, line them up, and turn them into a puzzle.
The pictures can be anything—favorite characters, numbers—whatever works! You can start with as few as four cubes for a smaller version, so the size is completely flexible.
Try adjusting it to suit the child’s age.
Kendama
When you think of kendama, most are made of wood or plastic, but you can make one from a milk carton too! Use the spout end as the cup, and cut the bottom half into strips to form the ball.
Since there’s a lot of scissor work, please supervise closely.
The ball is light, so there’s little risk of injury if it hits something—making this a safe kendama!
Pac‑Pac Puppet
The Pac-Pac Puppet is a milk carton puppet that can also be used for puppet shows! The work is quite detailed, so it’s a bit advanced to make with children, but once it’s finished, kids are sure to be captivated.
There are many steps, but you can create lots of variations like crocodiles, wolves, and more.