[Playable from infancy] Fun DIY water play toy ideas
As it starts to get hot, it becomes the perfect season for water play.
Even without going out to a big pool, many families set up a vinyl pool in the bathroom or on the balcony at home and have fun.
Here are some handmade water-play companions and items that really come in handy at those times.
You can make them together with the kids, and the making process itself is fun too.
There’s no need to buy anything special—these are all things you can make with materials you already have at home, like scrap materials, milk cartons, and empty plastic bottles.
When you make something yourself, you grow attached to it, and the fun doubles!
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Fun DIY Water Play Toy Ideas (1–10) for Babies and Toddlers
sponge ball
We’re going to make sponge balls perfect for water play using dishwashing sponges from the kitchen.
The method is super simple: cut the sponge into long strips, bundle them together, and secure the middle with a rubber band! Even if you don’t have sponges at home, you can easily find various types at 100-yen shops.
Use different colored sponges to make colorful balls! They absorb water but dry quickly with a firm squeeze, and you can freely adjust the size by cutting them with scissors—sponge balls made easy.
Castanets of a Floating Sea Otter
Let’s make a cute otter castanet that floats on water using the bottom of a milk carton! Otters float on their backs with a shell on their bellies and crack the shell with a stone in their hands, right? We’ll use a milk carton for the otter, and plastic bottle caps for the shell and stone.
First, cut the milk carton about in half, make slits at the four corners, and fold all four flaps outward.
Draw the otter’s face on the folded section, and on the opposite side draw its feet and tail.
Draw the hands on the left and right sides, cut along the outlines, then attach a bottle cap to the hands and another cap to the bottom—and it’s done.
It’s a cute toy even just floating in the water.
hydraulic boat
A hydro-powered boat that moves by expelling water.
Making one by hand might sound challenging, but with a milk carton, an empty dessert cup, and a straw, it’s actually easy! First, cut the milk carton in half lengthwise and make a hole in the bottom large enough for a straw to pass through.
Do the same with the empty container (like a yogurt cup), making a hole for the straw, and attach it to the milk carton hull using wood glue or similar adhesive.
Thread the straw through the dessert cup and the milk carton, and you’re done! Float it on water, pour water into the dessert cup, and it will move on its own!
Fun DIY Water Play Toy Ideas (11–20) That Even Babies and Toddlers Can Enjoy
watering can
Let’s make a watering can using a plastic bottle! You’ll need an empty plastic bottle, an awl for making holes, vinyl tape, and nylon tape.
First, make several holes in the bottom of the bottle.
Since using an awl can be dangerous, an adult should do this part.
Once the holes are made, it’s time to decorate.
Wrap vinyl tape around the bottle and let the kids decorate it however they like—sounds fun, right? Then braid the nylon tape and attach it to the bottle to make a handle, and you’re done.
Fill the bottle with water and screw the cap on; no water will come out.
When you open the cap, the water will pour out vigorously!
A turtle swimming in the water
How about making some aquatic creatures by hand and letting them swim in a pool or bath to play? Let’s try making a turtle using a milk carton, the trusty ally of homemade toys.
Cut the milk carton to create the turtle’s shell, face, legs, and tail.
For the shell, have the children draw pictures or write their names with a permanent marker.
Wrap the leg pieces with vinyl tape, punch holes in them, and connect them to the shell with string.
When you float it on water, the way it gently wobbles is really cute.
PET-bottle octopus shower
Let’s make a cute octopus-shaped shower using a plastic bottle! First, wrap red vinyl tape around the entire bottle.
After drawing the octopus’s eyes and mouth, make several holes in the bottom of the bottle.
Mark the spots with a permanent marker and use an awl to punch the holes.
Handling an awl can be dangerous, so an adult should do this part.
Fill the bottle with water, and your plastic bottle octopus shower is complete! We used an octopus here, but you can make all kinds of designs by changing the color of the tape.
water play bucket
Let’s make the perfect bucket for water play using a milk carton! Cut off the top part of the carton, punch holes on both sides with an awl or hole punch, thread a string through, and it’s done! Wrapping the outside with vinyl tape and letting the kids draw on it with a permanent marker gives it a fun, original touch.
It’s great for water play, of course, and it might even encourage kids who don’t like baths—if they have a bucket they made themselves, they might happily hop in the tub!