Making homemade toys helps to bond with the children, develops their creative skills, and gives them something special to be proud of. Homemade toys are super cheap and one of the best ways to reuse items you have in your house. The following article will learn a few fun, easy projects you can enjoy while making with your kids.
But that’s not all; let’s dive into some really exciting, easy-to-make DIY homemade toy ideas that keep your kids delighted and engaged for a pretty long period of time.
1. Sock Puppets
One of the easiest but most enjoyable things to do is to make sock puppets. With just some old socks and a few arts-and-crafts things, your children will be able to create themselves some little stars.
Materials Needed
- Old socks
- Googly eyes
- Fabric markers
- Yarn (for hair)
- Glue
Instructions
– Smear glue around the top of the sock and attach googly eyes.
– Draw on a mouth and nose with fabric markers.
– Add hair made out of yarn by gluing strands around the top of the sock.
– Let your child decorate their puppet with buttons or ribbons.
2. Cardboard Box Forts
If you have large cardboard boxes lying around, convert them into a fort to provide hours of imaginative entertainment.
Materials Needed
- Large cardboard boxes
- Scissors
- Markers or paint
- Tape
Instructions
– Cut out the windows and doors in the boxes to construct the fort body.
– Let your child paint or decorate the outside of the boxes.
– Glue a multitude of boxes – together for a multi-room creation.
3. Paper Plate Tambourines
If they love music, a paper plate tambourine is an easy, quick project kids will love shaking and playing.
Materials Needed
- Two paper plates
- Jingle bells or small rocks
- Glue
- Markers or stickers
Instructions
– Place jingle bells or small rocks between two paper plates.
– Glue the edges of the plates together, allowing just enough room for the sound to escape.
– Decorate with markers or stickers.
4. Home-made Play-dough
Making play dough at home can be just fun, yet it’s also a safe and nontoxic way to control what ingredients go into it.
Materials Needed
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 cup of salt
- 1 cup of warm water
- Food coloring
Instructions
– Mix flour and salt in a large bowl.
– Add warm water in small installments until dough reaches workable consistency.
– Add a few drops of food coloring and knead the dough to an even color.
5. Bottle Cap Magnets
This is one of those crafts that applies brilliant use to bottle caps, with unique fridge magnets.
Materials
- Bottle caps
- Small magnets
- Glue
- Paint or markers
Instructions
– Decorate the bottle caps with paint or markers.
– Glue a small magnet to the back of each cap.
– Let dry, then decorate fridge!
6. Tin Can Bowling Set
Get ready to create a bowling set using empty tin cans for indoor-outdoor fun.
Materials
- 10 empty tin cans
- Paint
- Tennis ball
Instructions
– Clean and dry the tin cans, then color it in bright paint.
– Make a pyramid with cans.
– Knock them down using a tennis ball.
7. Button Bracelets
Button bracelets work wonders for a simple jewelry-making project. They are so easy to make and allow your child to get creative with colors and patterns.
Materials Needed
- Buttons
- Elastic cord
- Scissors
Instructions
– Cut the elastic cord to fit your child’s wrist.
– Thread the buttons onto the cord, alternating between colors and size for variety.
– Tie a knot at the end and trim excess cord.
8. Miniature Fairy Garden
Creating a miniature fairy garden brings about imaginative plays and hours of entertainment.
Materials Needed
- A small container or pot
- Pebbles, plants, moss
- Small figurines or toys
Instructions
– Fill the container with pebbles, plants, and moss to make it a garden.
– Use small figurines to complete the fairy scene.
– Let your child move the garden elements around any way they like.
9. Painted Rock Animals
Take a trip out into the yard and collect some rocks, then transform them into adorable animals with just a bit of paint.
Materials Needed
- Rocks
- Paint
- Paintbrushes
Instructions
– Clean and dry the rocks.
– Paint a design onto each rock, making it into an animal- a lady bug or a turtle.
– Let the paint dry, then place the rocks in your garden.
10. Felt Board Stories
One of the most creative ways that children can retell stories in their own words and images is through a felt board.
Materials Needed
- Large piece of felt to serve as the board
- Various colored felts for shapes and characters
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions
– Cut out shapes, characters, and scenery from various colors of felt.
– Arrange pieces on felt board to create scenes and tell stories.
Making homemade toys with your kids is not only a very entertaining experience but it is also one of the most instructive ways to teach children about creativity and resourcefulness. These projects are simple, inexpensive, and can be made from items easily found in most homes. The memories of these craft sessions will last a lifetime.
