Anyone who’s ever seen a toddler toss aside a store-bought toy and spend hours playing with the box it came in knows that kids are experts at finding fun just about anywhere. That’s why it makes sense to turn boxes, spice jars, paper cups, or other household objects into DIY kids’ toys. For one thing, these homemade playthings are free — and recycling things for a second purpose is earth-friendly. Plus you’re encouraging your little one’s creativity and boosting that budding imagination by letting him decide how this “toy” works. So the next time you need a new diversion (or are stuck inside on a wet or cold day), check out these suggestions for DIY toys that require only a few basic supplies and some easy-to-do building.
1. Cardboard Playhouse
A pint-sized cabin will thrill your little one, but plastic playhouses can get pretty pricey. No problem — just transform a large cardboard box (either a shipping carton or a mega-sized appliance box) into a mini-mansion for your munchkin. With your child safely out of harm’s way, cut out window and door openings with a small knife or box-cutter, leaving one edge attached for built-in doors and shutters. (Make sure no sharp staples remain.) For extra fun, use markers or even fabric scraps to decorate the abode. Then furnish his home sweet home with small stuff you no longer need — plastic bowls and cups, say. Your little homeowner will love hanging out there during playtime — either solo or during playdates. No room for something so big? Convert a smaller box into a new home for stuffed animals and encourage your child to interior decorate.
2. Easy-to-Make Puppets
Little kids are fascinated by puppets (and the stories they tell), but that doesn’t mean you have to spring for a spendy set at the store. Release your inner child by using crayons to draw a face (or helping your little one draw one) onto a paper lunch bag for an instant hand puppet. Want to get ultra-crafty? Help your child glue construction-paper hair and eyes to create DIY toys that look like people or animals. Got a glove that’s lost its mate lying around the house? Use a marker to draw little faces on each finger and let your hand act out some classic tales, like the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf, or Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
3. Bath-Time Toys
Because they can get moldy quickly, you may find yourself tossing bath toys out more often than you’d like (even if you had the time, sometimes no amount of scrubbing can get ’em clean). Save money (and your manicure) by opting for DIY kids’ toys that boost the bath-time fun factor. Clean out empty plastic (not glass) spice containers and turn them into water shakers. Convert well-rinsed milk-cartons into super scoops (they float, too!) by cutting them at the midsection, then throw in some plastic spoons and measuring cups for pure pouring bliss.
4. Handmade Puzzles
Older toddlers are just getting the hang of putting puzzles together, so here’s a fun way to explore fitting shapes where they belong. To start, cut open and flatten a cereal box (or just grab some construction paper) and carefully cut out four shapes — a circle, a triangle, a square, and a rectangle. Help your toddler find the right empty spots for the shapes, and talk about what you both see and feel: “This is round — it’s a circle,” or “This is a square. Can you show me something else that’s shaped like a square?” Your do-it-yourself puzzle will last a while if you store the pieces in a resealable plastic bag.
When it comes to making noise, little ones rule, so channel that ear-splitting energy into making your own instruments for your toddler. Show your tot how to pound out a rhythm on an empty coffee canister or an upended set of metal bowls (with wooden spoons for drumsticks, of course). Make a mini-guitar by wrapping rubber bands over the mouth of a paper cup or a small plastic jar. Or place wax paper on the end of an empty toilet paper tube, secure it with a rubber band, and voila! — you’ve got a homemade kazoo. Got a trio of antsy toddlers in the house? Be their roadie, and give them a set of these DIY kids’ toys so they can strike up the band.
6. Build-Your-Own Blocks
Cardboard blocks are easy to stack — and can morph into a house, a chair, a speedway for cars, or a path for a parade of animals. To make a homemade set, keep a stash of boxes of different sizes, stuff them with crumpled newspaper to give them some heft, and tape the tops shut. (To make these DIY toys last longer, you can laminate the sides with self-adhesive contact paper or shelf liner.) After the two of you have finished setting up all sorts of structures, challenge your tot to build a tower — and then you knock it down. Now, switch!
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