Have you ever noticed how children have more fun with a cardboard box and a blanket than all the expensive store-bought toys? Hours of fun!

Select an Activity and click "Go" for INSTRUCTIONS on how to make these toys!

** Denotes Adult Supervision Highly Recommended

How to make these fun toys:

Zip Lock Books
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Zip lock sandwich bags
Construction paper
Pictures from magazines or photos
Glue
String, Shoe lace or Yarn
Hole Puncher

Take heavy sandwich bags.

Cut out construction paper in different colors to put in bag.

Glue photos, picture, and different themes on both sides of the construction paper. Ideas include photos of relatives to teach children names and faces, pictures of babies cut out of magazine, animals, colors, shapes, and alphabet as children grow.

Each bag becomes a double sided book of the page so past pictures on both sides.

Line the bags up with the seal all on the same side.

Taking a large needle thread through the edging of the sealed part to create a book seam. If you don't have a needle try punching three holes in the seam and threading yarn through as binding.

Tie tightly and viola!

Textured Wood Blocks
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Wood blocks, dowels, or cardboard boxes
Cloth remnants
Glue

Take common wood blocks, smoothed wood or cardboard boxes.

Use remnants of cloth from your sewing pile (you know, the one you've been meaning to get to?) or buy remnants in fabric store in as many different textures as possible, such as silk, tulle, corduroy, felt, or velvet.

Cover the blocks and glue into place or sew on as slip covers.

Allow your child a chance to feel and play with the blocks to experience the different textures.

If you don't have blocks just use the different cloth and let your child play with the cloth.

See which is his/her favorite!

Music Maker-Moracas**
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Small Can (baking powder, mints, etc.)
Beans, coins, buttons, etc.

Fill a small (hand held) can with beans, buttons, coins or other noise maker.

Glue the cover on securely.

Decorate and shake shake shake!

**Caution-Small internal parts. Please supervise children under 3 years old.

Kool Aid Flavored Playdough
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1 CUP FLOUR
1 CUP WATER
1 TABLESPOON OIL
1 PACKAGE UNSWEETENED KOOL AID
¼ CUP SALT

Mix all ingredients into a saucepan and stir constantly on medium heat. Be sure not to cook! Mixture will thicken slowly.

Take off heat and allow it to cool. Store in sealed container in refrigerator when not in use.

Warm in microwave for soothing activity.

This play dough is safe if eaten (though salty).

Cinnamon Flavored Playdough
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Make dough out of equal parts cinnamon and plain applesauce (jar type is fine).

Stir in more cinnamon until dough is firm enough to be molded.

Allow child to play with the dough and enjoy the smell.

You can even mold and allow to dry for a lovely scented ornament or potpourri!

Keep in container in fridge when not in use.

Frosting Playdough
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1 CAN FROSTING
1 & 1/2 CUP POWDERED SUGAR
1 CUP PEANUT BUTTER

Mix all ingredients together and play with as any other play dough!

Except this one is yummy!

Can Drop Game
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Oatmeal Can (or other large can)
Glue
Clothespins

Wash out empty oatmeal can or other container with a lid. (Caution ** sharp edges are likely with a coffee can)

Cut a small circle in plastic lid and then place back onto top of can. (Glue on lids of coffee can or containers with sharp edges)

Use any clothespins or objects large enough to put into hole on top of can. To make things interesting you can paint the clothespins to teach color identification or decorate the can with designs!

Another idea is to construct the can with larger hole and have older children take turns first kneeling, then standing with the can on the floor.

See if he/she can drop the clothespins into the can. Gradually increase height (safely) for a really competitive game!

Finger Painting with Colored Hair Gel**
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Take ordinary hair gel in different colors and squirt pile onto tray (for easy clean up).

Allow your child to feel the stickiness and consistency of the gel.

This activity is good to do in conjunction with the shaving cream play to show children different textures.

**Be sure NOT to let children eat hair gel.

Finger Painting with Shaving Cream**
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Take ordinary shaving cream and squirt onto a tray (for easy clean up).

Swirl one drop of food coloring in each pile of shaving cream and mix till smooth.

Allow child to play with the piles of shaving cream with hands or even use a paint brush to paint 3-D creations on paper!

**Make sure NOT to let children eat shaving cream

Pudding Play
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One package of pre-made chocolate, butterscotch, and vanilla pudding
Paint brushes
Construction paper

Using brushes allow kids to paint on construction paper a design using pudding.

Another variation is to empty pudding out onto a tray and allow children to explore the sensory play, taste, and texture of the pudding.

Add food coloring to the vanilla for a different color to either play with or paint with.

Edible Bracelets
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Pipe cleaners
Cereal with holes, such as fruity O's or toasted O's

Take pipe cleaner and string cereal onto cleaner

When tying off pipe cleaner, be sure to tuck ends in tightly to keep child from being scratched.

Mold to child's wrist for a delicious treat!

Noodle Necklaces**
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Any dry pasta with holes (elbows, ziti, etc.)
Yarn or String
Food Coloring

String pasta and paint with food coloring or

Paint first then string!

**Strangulation hazard for young children.

 

Sorting Game**
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Use clean empty egg carton and any common items, such as colored noodles, cereals, buttons, beads, and beans of different colors.

Use the egg carton as a sorting tray to teach counting, color sorting or textures.

A learning snack to grow on!

**Use caution with choke foods or items that could be inserted in nose or ears.

Lace Up Plate
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Hole Punch
Paper Plate
Yarn or String
Tape

Using hole punch, punch holes around the edge of a large paper plate.

Tie a long piece of string or yarn to one hole in the plate.

Wrap the 'threading end' of the yarn with tape to make it easier to insert into holes of plate.

Have your child use the string to lace the plate up by connecting the dots with the yarn. Use different colors of yarn as desired to make it interesting.

Puppet Theater
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Large Cardboard Box (such as TV box or refrigerator box or wardrobe box)
Remnant Material
Sharp Scissors

Cut a large rectangular hole in a large cardboard box.

Decorate with markers, glitter, crayons, etc.

Hang remnant material curtains over opening.

Make Hand puppets out of old, mismatched socks or use other stuffed toys for puppets!

Fun Putty
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1 Tablespoon Liquid Starch
2 Tablespoons White Glue
3 drops food coloring (optional)
Plastic egg or screw top jar
Bowl

Put starch in bowl.

Add glue and let set 5 minutes.

If desired, add food coloring.

Mix until starch is absorbed and color is spread smoothly. Hint: the more you mix the better it gets

Store in plastic egg or small jar overnight before using to pick up pictures from comics.

Use to bounce, pick up pictures from comics or newspaper, and mold into shapes!

Lasts several days if stored in airtight container, but if putty dries out, dip in warm water and knead!

 

Flubber
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Solution A:
1 & 1/2 Cups warm water
2 Cups Elmers Glue
Green food coloring

Solution B:
4 Teaspoons Borax
1 & 1/3 Cups warm water

Mix solution A in one bowl, mix solution B in another bowl.

Pour solution A into solution B.
DO NOT MIX OR STIR.

Just lift the flubber out! Hint: Using a glass bowl allows children to watch the flubber form!

Store in bags. You can also half the recipe by cutting solution A in half and it will work the same!

Oceans in a Bottle**
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Using empty plastic bottle (hair gel, water, soda) fill it ½ with water.

Add a few drops of blue food coloring

Fill the remaining 2/3 space in the bottle with vegetable oil.

Fill the remaining bottle till full with baby oil. Crazyglue (Super Glue) the cap to the bottle on.

Turn bottle on side to let it settle for a minute. Water should settle to the bottom.

Makes a great gift for Mom, Dad or other grown up!

**Caution Do not allow young children to chew on this bottle. Seal cover on tightly with super glue to prevent ingestion as baby oil is toxic to children.

Romper Stompers
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2 Coffee Cans
Smooth Rope

Punch two holes in the opposite sides of each coffee can approximately 1/4 inch from the bottom. (Punching holes inward will help keep sharp edges from protruding outward toward child's play)

Measure length of rope by having your child hold one end above the knee and measure to the floor. Double that length allowing enough extra for a knot.

Thread Rope through holes and tie securely so that the knot is inside the coffee can leaving large loop for child to hold.

Glue plastic lid back onto coffee cans.

Invert and have child stand on cans while pulling up on ropes! Romper Stomper fun!

Snow Globes**
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Baby Food Jar
Super Glue
Glitter
Figurines

Open and wash a baby food jar.

Super Glue figurine onto the inside of the lid.

Fill jar with a small amount of glitter

Add water to fill almost to the top.

Replace lid and glue closed.

Invert onto cap and enjoy!

**Caution-Adults should closely supervise Super Glue use with older children and prevent young children from use.
**Snow globes have small parts and glass - not for children under 8 Years of age.

 

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Home Made Toy Ideas