Let's make toys with straws! Easy and fun DIY toys
Let’s use straws to make fun toys!
When you hear “straw,” you probably think of the tool you use to drink juice and other beverages.
But did you know that, with a bit of creativity, they can transform into all kinds of toys?
In this article, we’ll introduce straw-based toys and crafts that children in nursery school or kindergarten will love.
Instruments, vehicles, nostalgic classics, and even accessories…!
Straws transform in seven ways?! Exciting, heart-pounding handmade crafts—what can you make?
Give it a try yourself!
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Let's make toys with straws! Simple and fun DIY toys (11–20)
necklace
You can make necklaces using colorful straws! Cut the straws into short pieces and string them together with twine.
You can connect them into a chain or arrange them into a three-dimensional pendant top—there are lots of ways to enjoy this.
The more colors you have, like red, light blue, yellow, and green, the more vibrant the result will be.
bracelet
With just three straws, you can knit using a finger-knitting technique! The steps might be a bit tricky for young children, so it’s a good idea to check their progress together.
You can also use two colors of yarn to make a two-tone design, so once you get the hang of it, give it a try!
blow painting
Blow painting with straws is an activity that children of a wide range of ages can enjoy, from toddlers to older kids.
You drop paint onto drawing paper and use a straw to blow it, watching the patterns spread.
Lay down newspaper or something similar underneath so it’s okay if things get messy.
Since the colors you use and how they mix differ each time, you’ll end up with a one-of-a-kind creation.
bamboo-copter
Taketombo are very easy to make, so they’re great for kids’ crafts! Use thick paper or a milk carton for the blades.
Cut a small slit in a straw and insert the blades—that’s it! To make it fly, you need to fold the blades at an angle, so just be careful not to fold them straight.
Slurp slurp with a straw
With the Straw Shuru-Shuru, the straw wriggles like a living creature when you blow on it! It’s easy to make—just cut the straw into a spiral.
Because you’ll be cutting at a diagonal, it’s best for preschoolers who are comfortable using scissors (older preschool to kindergarten age).
Adding a fringe or a little figure to the tip of the straw changes the way it moves and makes it even more fun!
Perler beads
If you’re doing straw crafts at home, ironing beads (perler-style) are recommended.
Just line up the straws, sandwich them with kitchen paper, and press with an iron—that’s it! It’s also fun to try different shapes by combining straws of various thicknesses and colors.
Be sure an adult supervises and helps.
Let’s make toys with straws! Simple and fun handmade toys (21–30)
Magic hand
A magic hand is a device where you use a mechanism to move a hand motif that’s larger than a real hand.
The unique mechanism gives it a slightly awkward motion, which is fun to watch on its own.
To make one, cut construction paper into the shape of a hand, leave openings at the finger joints and apply double-sided tape, then create the “bones” with short pieces of straw.
After that, thread string through the straws and you’re done—when you pull the strings, the fingers curl at the joints.
To make it easy to tell which string controls which finger, it’s recommended to use different-colored straws and match the color at the end of each string to the straw it runs through.
