Animated Trinket Box for Kids

Your kids will have a lot of fun with a dime store-type game you can make in a few minutes. With a little tin box, and a few supplies, you can create a moving character that will thrill a young child. When the kid opens the box, he or she can magically move around a ballerina, a dolphin, a tiger, or any other character you choose. It's called a dime store game because, years ago, you could buy similar games at a five-and-dime store, and they were always cheap but cool.

You'll need a little tin with a lid to make the animated trinket box. You can buy such a tin at a craft store but you can often purchase them, containing candy or mints, at most any grocery or drug store.

It's up to you if you want to buy a character or if you prefer to make one. You can make a person, animal, or other character, by simply cutting them from paper. You can print out a ballerina, one of your parents, or even a puppy, by using pictures you already have, or ones you've found online. You'll need one picture as well as a mirror image of that picture. Glue or tape them together so that their wrong sides are facing each other.

When you look around at craft stores, trinket places, or even dollar-theme stores, you can find miniatures and many tiny characters you could use for the animated box. These can be made of foam, wood, plastic, or other material.

In addition to the character you'll need a paper clip. Bend the small part of the clip towards you, uncurl it, and cut it off at the bend (see illustration here). Attach the cut area to the character. This can be done by trapping it between a picture and its mirror image, or by gluing it on to a different type of character.

Place the uncut part of the paper clip on the inside bottom of the tin, and bend it so that your character stands upright. Then, place a small button magnet on the bottom of the tin. When you move the magnet around, it drags the paper clip, and causes your character to skate around the tin. A child can hold the tin, move the magnet with just one finger, and other kids will wonder how he does it. When the game is not in use put all the pieces - including the magnet - inside the box.

Any little kid would love an ice skating bear, a moving ballerina, or another animated character. You can quickly make the dime store game and, as years go by, your child will cherish the adorable game you made for him or her.