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!
- A simple yet amazing craft you can make with straws! An idea that will have you completely absorbed
- Fun crafts using straws
- Paper cup crafts that elementary school kids will love! A collection of fun project ideas
- Moving! Spinning! Flying! Fun handmade toys made with rubber bands
- Craft ideas using plastic bottle caps [for boys]
- Easy to make! DIY ideas for Whack-a-Gator
- [For Kids] Spins in the wind! A collection of recommended DIY pinwheel ideas
- Let's play with paper cups! Crafts and indoor play
- Let's make toys with paper cups! Simple and fun handmade toys
- Fun and easy toy ideas made from empty Yakult bottles
- Adults will be hooked! A collection of craft ideas using toilet paper rolls
- Simple yet amazing crafts: craft ideas that elementary school students will want to make
- [Handmade] Let's play with shuriken! A collection of homemade target practice ideas
Let’s make toys with straws! Simple and fun handmade toys (21–30)
Sensory straw bottle
Let’s make a sensory straw bottle that beautifully showcases colors shimmering and moving.
By sealing straws filled with different colors into a single bottle, you can create an even more vibrant world.
It’s a simple process: add glitter and oil to the straws so they don’t leak, then arrange them inside the bottle.
A key highlight is the wide range of customization options—what you put inside the straws, how you arrange them in the bottle, and how you decorate the outside of the bottle.
You can enjoy its beauty just by turning the bottle over, but it can also be fun to experiment with different ways of moving it, like rolling it around.
Mini crane game with straws
@ranmaru_shien Mini Crane Game#HandmadeToysworkChildcareEducational# developmental support (ryōiku)#AtHomePlay
♬ Super Mario Bros Main Theme – Geek Music
This is an idea for enjoying a crane game easily using just simple materials.
Bend the accordion section of a straw and secure it firmly with tape to create the arm.
Wrap construction paper around it to add strength, and cut the tip with scissors, spreading it out like petals.
This serves as the crane’s claw, allowing you to grab small prizes.
For operation, lighter materials are easier to handle, so colorful pom-poms or small beads are recommended.
Because the straw is easy to move, even children can operate it without using too much force.
It’s a fun idea that combines the ease of crafting with playability.
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.
Roll-and-drop game made with straws
@n.annlee321 Roll, roll... ☺️#tiktok classroomLife with children#Summer VacationSummer Vacation Craft
♬ Athletic Meet “Heaven and Hell” (No Introduction) – Shinonome
Here’s a fun-to-make, fun-to-play marble run you can build with straws.
Gather tapioca (boba) straws, beads, masking tape, and scissors, and let’s get started.
Cut the tip of a tapioca straw at an angle, then tape it to a wall with masking tape, adjusting the angle as you go.
Add guards at the ends of the straws so the rolling beads don’t fall out.
The key is to tweak the angles so the beads roll smoothly.
Once it’s finished, try rolling some beads and play! It could also be fun to turn this into a little science project—prepare beads of different sizes and time how many seconds each one takes to roll through.
Kaleidoscope of Flowers
Would you like to try making a flower kaleidoscope with beautiful, intricate movements? Despite its complexity, it’s actually very easy to make.
The main materials are thin curling ribbon, bamboo skewers, straws, and round stickers—all available at 100-yen shops.
Stick ribbons cut to equal lengths onto the round stickers, thread them onto a bamboo skewer, secure the tip with a bead or similar, then slide a straw over it—and you’re done.
By moving the straw up and down or side to side, you’ll get a variety of expressions.
Using multicolored ribbons makes it especially pretty when you spin it.
Let’s make a flute
As a one-day science project, here’s a fun idea for making a simple flute.
Since this involves using fire, be sure to work with an adult.
Prepare three thick straws and flatten one end of each.
Use a lighter to gently heat the flattened end, then pinch the melted section with a clip to seal it.
After making all three the same way, blow into them—you’ll hear a flute-like sound.
The pitch changes with the length of the straws, so adjust them to create the scale you like.
Drop-in game with a straw
“Straw drop” is a type of therapeutic play that supports children’s development.
Through this activity, kids can build fine motor skills and concentration.
By grasping straws and dropping them into holes, they also enhance hand–eye development and observation skills.
Recognizing colors and shapes and developing an interest in numbers stimulate their senses and cognitive abilities, making this a recommended support tool.
It also gives children a sense of achievement.
Since they can learn while having fun, try making your own version and enjoy it together with the kids!
