[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.
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[For Elementary School Students] Handmade Toy Making Ideas (141–150)
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
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
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
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
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!
Boomerang made from paper cups
Let me introduce a unique boomerang that might boost kids’ reflexes.
This boomerang is made from paper cups, but it’s apparently hard to catch when it returns—so it could help train reflexes.
Fix and connect the bottoms of two paper cups with cellophane tape.
Insert a bent paper clip into the joined section.
Set the paper-cup boomerang onto a launcher made from a chopstick with a rubber band fixed to it, and then just launch it.
It takes some technique to throw and catch, but mastering it might be part of the fun.
Crafts you can play with
In this Reiwa era, where digital devices have surrounded us since the day we were born, it’s nice to enjoy some analog play from time to time.
So here’s a summer craft you can make and play with right away: the “Wobbly Tree.” Glue a branching tree onto half of a toy capsule.
Hang rubber bands from the branches one by one, and the person who knocks the tree over loses.
If you substitute the toy capsule base with something else, you can make an even bigger tree.
There are also videos introducing other playable crafts, so if you’re interested, be sure to check them out.