Homemade Toys for Toddlers

Have you ever noticed that toddlers sometimes play with boxes that hold toys rather than the toys themselves? Toddlers have fun playing with toys made from simple household items, and some of the best toys you can provide your toddler are homemade. New toys made from discarded plastic bottles, jar lids, and other household items are easy to make, educational, and most of all, fun.

If your toddler is tired of his or her toys, and you want to provide new entertainment, try making the following homemade toys for toddlers. You'll have fun making the following homemade toys, and your toddler will enjoy hours of fun playing with them.

Give New Life to an Old Stuffed Animal

Stuffed animals are cute when displayed on beds and shelves, but stuffed animals are often ignored. If your toddler has a stuffed animal lying untouched in the bottom of the toy box, consider making the lonely stuffed animal into a puppet. Simply find the seam on the back or underside of the stuffed animal, and remove the stitches with a seam ripper. Remove the stuffing, hand stitch the edges of the opening, and turn the forgotten stuffed animal into a puppet. Toddlers love puppets, and an old stuffed animal can become a new and entertaining toy that will become a favorite plaything.

A Homemade Alternative to Water Guns

If you would rather your toddler didn't play with toy guns, including water guns, your toddler can still have fun squirting their friends with homemade water toys. Next time you empty a bottle with a twist-up top, save the bottle and turn it into a fun swimming pool or bathtub toy. An empty plastic squirt bottle makes a great water toy, and you'll recycle a plastic bottle that would have otherwise been thrown away.

Jar Lids Have Many Uses

Next time you empty a peanut butter jar or mayonnaise jar, wash the lids and save them. Create a bag of colorful jar lids for your toddler's amusement. Plastic jar lids can be used in place of toy dishes, lids can be stacked like blocks, and lids can be traced around to make interesting designs. Your toddler will find creative and imaginative ways to use a bag of colorful jar lids, and you'll be amazed at what your child dreams up.

Indoor "Sandbox"

Kids love to play in a sandbox, especially toddlers, but inclement weather can put a stop to fun in the sun. Make your toddler an indoor sandbox, but instead of using sand, fill a plastic dishpan or other large plastic container with rice. Give your toddler a few plastic cups and a plastic spoon, and your toddler can have fun pretending and digging for hours on end. Rice is relatively cheap, it's easy to vacuum, and rice is much cleaner than sand.

Make the rice colorful by adding and few drops of food coloring and tossing the rice until the color is uniform and well blended. Make a pound of five different colors, let the food color dry, and combine the colored rice for a rainbow of fun.

Homemade Fishing Game

Toddlers love catching fish, but there's no need to buy expensive fishing games. Cut out fish shapes and other tropical sea life from cardstock or heavy posterboard. Have your toddler help color the shapes, and attach a metal paper clip to each one. Make a fishing pole by tying a string to a broom handle or similar item, and tie a magnet to the string. Place the shapes in a plastic bucket, or scatter them on the floor. Your toddler will have fun catching fish and other sea life, and you will have created a homemade game that can be enjoyed again and again.