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[For Elementary School Kids] Handmade Toy Craft Ideas

There are plenty of opportunities to make handmade toys, like indoor play items or independent research projects.

Some of you might be thinking, “Isn’t there a toy I can make with things I already have at home?”

In this article, we’ve compiled a bunch of handmade toy ideas for elementary school children.

These are not only fun to make, but also fun to play with once they’re finished.

It’s also great to incorporate your favorite characters or designs when making them.

Be sure to check out these handmade toy ideas that you can enjoy with family and friends.

[For Elementary School Students] Handmade Toy Making Ideas (141–150)

A soccer game you can make with straws

[Summer Vacation Crafts] Easy! Playable Crafts (For Elementary School Students) [Soccer] [Handmade Toy] Independent Research
A soccer game you can make with straws

How about making a simple toy out of straws so you can enjoy soccer at home? It’s a fun, engaging game you can play together with friends or family! Another great point is that you can make it using familiar materials like an empty box and some straws.

Use the empty box to create the field and the straws to build the goals.

Attach straws to the player pieces you cut out from the box, and control them as you play.

It could be even more exciting to model the players after your favorite stars! This toy is sure to help kids develop dexterity and concentration.

We’ve shared detailed instructions in a video, so check it out and give it a try!

A whistle you can blow with a straw

[Instrument Craft] Let's Make a Straw Flute You Can Play Tunes With (Handmade Toy / Upcycled Craft) [Easy Craft / Playable Craft] A Handmade Instrument You Can Make Music With
A whistle you can blow with a straw

Here’s how to make a whistle out of a straw.

Cut two slits at one end of a straw and trim it so the width forms a rectangle.

Cut the other end of the straw and fit it over the rectangular end, then secure it with cellophane tape.

Adjust the tape so the width becomes a square.

Cut another straw to about 5 centimeters and flatten one end.

Place the flattened end over the side where you can see the square gap, and secure it with cellophane tape.

The key is to test-blow it and check the sound before taping everything down firmly.

Change the lengths of the straws to create different pitches, fix them in place, and you’re done.

Kids are sure to get excited about a whistle made from everyday materials!

Make a bow and arrow with straws!

Make a Bow and Arrow from Straws! Recycled Craft! (For 1st–2nd Grade Elementary Students, About 20 Minutes) #craft #handmade_toy
Make a bow and arrow with straws!

A piece you worked hard to make yourself becomes twice as fun if you can play with it afterward, right? So this time, we’re introducing a bow and arrow you can make with straws.

You can use either thick boba straws or regular straws.

Besides the straws, you’ll just need common household items like a toilet paper roll and rubber bands, so it’s easy to prepare.

The projectile that the bow shoots is made from the toilet paper roll and rubber bands.

Make the bow using a straw and a spherical Styrofoam ball.

Once it’s finished, just aim and shoot at targets made from paper plates or balloons.

Kids will enjoy crafting it with the excitement of being able to play with it after it’s done.

straw wrapper

Let's make a straw wrapper and paper whistle!
straw wrapper

Kids will be thrilled to work on making sound-producing instruments.

Here’s how to make a trumpet using a straw and construction paper.

Prepare a half-circle of construction paper about 25 to 30 centimeters across.

Roll the paper into a cone shape.

Cut both sides of the tip of the straw to create a pointed edge, then insert that pointed tip into the cut end of the paper cone.

Secure the construction paper and the straw with cellophane tape, and you’re done.

When playing, pinch the tip of the straw flat and blow.

It’s a simple craft, but it can produce a unique sound.

Plastic bottle drum

[Anywhere Art] [Summer Vacation Crafts] Plastic Bottle Drum [Handmade Instrument]
Plastic bottle drum

Simple yet loud! Here’s how to make a plastic-bottle drum.

First, cut off the bottom of an empty plastic bottle and wrap the cut edge with vinyl tape.

Next, stretch a balloon over the opening and secure it firmly with tape so it doesn’t come off.

Decorate the bottle with pens or stickers as you like! Finally, tape a 10 cm square piece of aluminum foil to the tip of a chopstick, crumple the foil into a ball to make a beater, and you’re done! It could be fun for everyone to make their own and enjoy a group performance.

Give it a try!

PET bottle air cannon

Air Cannon with a Plastic Bottle! Recycling Craft! (For 1st–2nd Grade Elementary Students, About 20 Minutes) #Craft #HandmadeToy #AirCannon
PET bottle air cannon

Recommended for kids who are bored with ordinary toys! Let’s make a plastic-bottle air cannon and play.

First, cut off the bottom of an empty plastic bottle, cover the cut edge with a balloon, and secure it firmly with tape.

Tie the end of the balloon so you can pull it.

Next, cut a few slits in one end of a toilet paper tube, wrap it with vinyl tape to reinforce it, then attach it to the bottle to make a handle.

Finally, make a few targets and you’re done! It’s a science toy that lets you have fun learning how air can knock down targets.

It’s easy to make, so give it a try and play with it!

Authentic handmade guitar

[Summer Vacation Craft] Authentic! How to Make a Cool Guitar (Toilet Paper Rolls, Rubber Bands, Paper Cups) [Handmade Instrument, Playable Toy, Playable Craft] Upcycled Fun • Lower and Middle Elementary Grades • Independent Study
Authentic handmade guitar

Here’s an introduction to a genuine-sounding guitar you can make using items like toilet paper rolls and paper cups.

You’ll also use a sample-size paper cup; the key is to choose one whose bottom fits the toilet paper roll.

Cut slits in the paper cup, hook rubber bands onto both the cup and the toilet paper roll, and stack the two pieces together.

By adjusting the position of the toilet paper roll, you can improve the sound when you pluck the rubber bands.

If you attach the sample cup and make a pick, you can create an even more authentic guitar—give it a try!

Let’s make a train out of a milk carton

[Handmade Toy] Let's Make a Train with a Milk Carton!
Let's make a train out of a milk carton

A must for train lovers! Let’s make a train using a milk carton.

First, cut off the bottom 5 cm of the carton.

Open up the remaining part and cut it into four large panels.

Accordion-fold each of the four panels and pack them into the bottom section.

Secure them firmly with tape so nothing comes out.

Next, tape magnets to both sides so the trains can couple together.

Finally, decorate the train with construction paper and seal it with packing tape to finish.

Try making trains in various colors and designs and connect them freely as you play!

[Origami] Hand spinner

With a single sheet of origami! How to fold a super-spinning hand spinner — with voice commentary / ORIGAMI [Hand spinner] with subtitles
[Origami] Hand spinner

Let’s make it with origami! Here are some ideas for an origami hand spinner.

A hand spinner is a small toy that you spin with your palm or fingers.

It became a worldwide craze around 2017, so many parents may already know it.

This time, let’s make a hand spinner out of origami.

All you need is origami paper and glue.

If you blow on it, you can enjoy watching it spin around and around.

When giving it to a child with small hands, it’s a good idea to adjust the size of the origami paper.

Stroll Pet

Here’s an idea for a “walking pet” that’s sure to make strolling more fun.

The structure is quite simple.

First, connect two cores from rolls of packing tape.

Next, decorate the cores however you like, then cover them with clear tape.

Tie on a string so you can pull it along as you walk, and it’s done.

You can give it the look of an animal to enjoy a walk-like experience, or use characters like Anpanman for a cute touch.

It’ll feel like you’re taking a walk together, and it’s sure to be fun.