[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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Handmade Toy Craft Ideas for Elementary School Students (81–90)
Marble run with a milk carton and paper plates
Let’s make a spiral marble run using a milk carton and paper plates! First, cut off the spout and the bottom of the milk carton and turn it into a cylinder by removing the corners.
Next, cut out the center of a paper plate to make a donut shape, snip one spot to open it up, then make several cuts from the center hole outward.
Wrap these around the milk carton to form slide-like ramps.
It’s a good idea to roll a marble from time to time as you build to check that it rolls properly.
Finally, cut off the bottom third of a paper cup, attach it under the end of the slide, and use it as the catcher—then you’re done!
Marble coaster made from drawing paper and milk cartons
Let’s try making a complex marble run using a milk carton and construction paper! First, close the opening of the milk carton to make a complete cube, then wrap it with construction paper in any color you like.
Next, use construction paper to craft detailed tracks in various shapes.
Make different kinds of paths—curves, sharp angles, and zigzags.
Once the tracks are ready, attach them to the milk-carton cube however you like, and you’re done.
There are no rules for how to build the tracks, so create an original and fun course full of personality!
A floppy, cute sitting teddy bear
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.
A cute dog plushie made from a towel
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.
Quirky Animals Made from Towels
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.
A kalimba that makes a hopping sound
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.
straw airplane
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.
Disposable Chopsticks Chomping Crocodile
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Let me introduce the Chopstick Chomping Crocodile—its moving face is super fun! Get some chopsticks, rubber bands, and origami, and let’s make it.
First, split two pairs of chopsticks.
Align each pair lengthwise and secure them with rubber bands.
Once you have two secured sticks, attach them together top and bottom with rubber bands so they can open and close.
Finally, glue or tape a face and mouth to the tips of the chopsticks, and you’re done.
Give it a try for some chomp-chomp fun! Since the method is simple, it could also be fun to swap the crocodile for another animal.
paper cup light
https://www.tiktok.com/@chooobo2/video/7436354141355658513Let’s make an exciting item using a paper cup! First, cut a piece of a clear file (plastic folder) to match the size of the paper cup’s rim.
Use a permanent marker to draw any picture you like.
Next, cut out the bottom of the paper cup and decorate the sides with stickers, etc.
Finally, place the drawing you made on the rim side of the paper cup, cover it with plastic wrap from above, and secure it with a rubber band—that’s it! If you shine a light through the hole where you cut out the bottom and aim it at a wall, your picture will be projected on the wall.
It looks perfect for Halloween or Christmas too.
Try playing with it in a dark room!
How to Make an Easy Guitar
A simple guitar you can make with paper cups lets you easily live out the dream of strumming a ringing guitar.
First, glue the bottoms of two paper cups together.
Then stack another paper cup on each side with slits cut into them, and attach rubber bands into those slits—done.
The key here is the length of the rubber bands.
By choosing which slit to anchor them in and lining up rubber bands of different lengths, you can create differences in sound just like a real guitar.
Think about what kind of sound will make it feel cool, and fine-tune it into your ideal guitar.