[For Elementary School Kids] Handmade Toy Craft Ideas

A floppy, cute sitting teddy bear

Floppy and cute handmade plush toy – sitting little bear – manimani mamagoto

A seated teddy bear plushie made with faux fur has a charming combination of softness and a relaxed, floppy look.

You sew together fabric with fur and stuff it with cotton, and the way you stuff it affects how relaxed it looks in the end.

Make the parts for the face, body, arms, and legs, connect them while keeping natural transitions in mind, and attach the small parts to finish.

Pay close attention to details like the size of each part and the colors you use, and craft it with care.

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kappamaki

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A cute dog plushie made from a towel

Cute dog plush made from a towel — easy, beginner-friendly

This is about making a cute stuffed dog using an everyday face towel you can find in any household.

First, cut the towel to create two identical pieces layered together.

Make small slits in both pieces, sew them together, turn the piece right-side out, and stuff it with cotton.

Then shape the overall form with thread and attach parts like the face made from felt to finish.

By changing the towel’s color and the facial expression, you can create plushies with a variety of looks.

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kappamaki

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Quirky Animals Made from Towels

How to make a quirky animal plushie—like a rabbit or a bear—using a towel, easy for beginners to make without a pattern

Towels are essential items in daily life for things like wiping your face, and their softness is a big part of their appeal.

Let’s use that softness to make cute animal mascots.

Cut the towel into the shape of the animal you want to create, sew two pieces together, then stuff them with cotton to form the animal’s shape.

After that, attach parts like the face made from felt so it looks like the animal, and you’re done.

It’s also fun to add originality by choosing different towel colors, varying how you stuff the cotton, and designing unique shapes for the parts.

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kappamaki

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A kalimba that makes a hopping sound

[Instrument Craft] Boing-Boing Sounds♪ Kalimba <Upcycled Craft / Handmade Toy> [Empty Box / Spoon / Rubber Bands] Easy to Make

A kalimba is a traditional African instrument consisting of a wooden box fitted with thin metal or bamboo tines.

This time, let’s make a kalimba using an empty candy box and plastic spoons! The method is simple: just use rubber bands to fasten the spoons to the empty box.

To improve stability, you’ll need to create grooves to hold some chopsticks, but don’t worry—the process is as easy as making small cuts with scissors.

Place your handmade kalimba on a desk, hold the body down with your hand, and pluck the spoons to produce interesting sounds.

Try experimenting with how the way you secure the spoons changes the pitch.

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Hane Keisuke

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Let’s try making a tangram

[Math Craft] Let’s make the ever-popular educational puzzle “Tangram” for kids! A math video where you build and play

Here’s an idea for making a handmade tangram, a puzzle that’s popular with children.

There are many store-bought options, but you can make one yourself if you have construction paper.

Creating it on your own also leads to discoveries about numbers.

Tangrams let you freely choose colors and shapes while having fun, and they nurture creativity and spatial awareness.

As kids cut out the pieces and arrange them, they naturally develop fine motor skills and concentration.

Completing a figure or making an original design gives them a sense of accomplishment and boosts their confidence.

A handmade tangram isn’t just a toy—it becomes a warm, enriching experience that supports children’s intellectual and emotional growth.

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kepiko

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Paper Cup UFO Catcher

How to make a UFO catcher with paper cups? Crafting tips from a nursery teacher (for 5-year-olds)

The “Paper Cup UFO Catcher” is a popular DIY recreation idea you can enjoy with elementary school kids.

Cut eight slits into a paper cup to make tentacle-like arms, then insert a straw through the center to move it.

Place another paper cup over the top and move it up and down—this opens and closes the arms.

The moment it grabs the target is super exciting! It’s easy to make with everyday materials, yet the movement feels authentic and makes it really fun to play.

Figuring out the controls is part of the charm, and it gets even more exciting when friends compete.

It’s a recommended activity that combines the joy of crafting with the sense of achievement from a game.

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kojifumi

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straw airplane

"Straw Airplane" Flies Like Crazy Outdoors! — From a Magazine by Play Experts in After‑School Care

Popular in after-school care, the “straw airplane” is a fun craft that’s easy to make with a straw and construction paper—and it flies really well.

First, cut off the bendy part of the straw with scissors so it’s straight.

Next, cut two long, narrow strips from the construction paper, roll each into a ring, and tape them to the front and back of the straw.

Using a smaller ring in front and a larger ring in back makes it stable and helps it fly surprisingly far.

Kids are amazed at how it flies differently from a regular paper airplane! You can compete to see whose airplane flies the farthest, try different throwing techniques, and enjoy playing over and over.

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kojifumi

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