As a mom, you want to give your toddler fun and educational toys without constantly breaking the bank. That’s where DIY toys come in! Not only are they affordable, but they also help spark creativity, fine motor skills, and problem-solving. Plus, you probably have most of the materials at home already. In this post, I’ll share my favorite DIY toys for toddlers that are easy to make and perfect for keeping little hands and minds busy.
One of the biggest shocks I had as a new mother was the limited type of toys available to engage my toddlers in creative play.
Play doesn’t have to be expensive. You don’t need all the latest equipment and well-marketed toys! All you need is a little creativity and some time.
Why DIY Toys for Toddlers?
DIY toys aren’t just about saving money—they offer many other benefits:
- Encourages creativity: Toddlers love experimenting with new materials and textures.
- Customizable: You can tailor these toys to fit your child’s developmental stage.
- Bonding time: Creating DIY toys with your toddler is a great way to bond and share experiences.
- Eco-friendly: You can recycle materials you already have, reducing waste and helping the environment.
Now, let’s dive into some easy-to-make DIY toys that your toddler will love!
1. Sensory Bottles
These are always a hit with toddlers! All you need is an empty plastic bottle, water, and a variety of small items like beads, glitter, and sequins. Seal it tightly with hot glue, and voilà—a mesmerizing sensory toy that your child can shake, turn, and explore.
What you’ll need:
- Empty plastic bottle
- Water
- Clear glue
- Small items (beads, glitter, faux leaves, buttons)
Why it works: Sensory bottles help toddlers develop visual tracking skills and hand-eye coordination, and they’re great for calming down or transitioning between activities.
Cardboard Box House
Who knew that something as simple as a cardboard box could entertain toddlers for hours? A large cardboard box can easily be transformed into a DIY playhouse. Cut out windows and doors, and let your little one decorate it with crayons or stickers.
What you’ll need:
- Large cardboard box
- Scissors
- Markers, stickers, or paint
Why it works: This DIY toy encourages imaginative play and gross motor skills as toddlers move in and out of their custom house.
Play like this is the whole idea behind My First School Level 1 — a full year of one-year-old activities, already mapped out, so you’re not deciding what to do every morning.
Pom Pom Drop Game
Turn an empty paper towel roll into a fun pom-pom drop game. Tape the roll vertically to the wall and provide your toddler with colorful pom-poms to drop through the tube. You can add more tubes for a maze-like effect!
What you’ll need:
- Empty paper towel rolls
- Tape
- Pom-poms or small balls
Why it works: This activity is great for developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and color recognition.
4. Busy Board
Busy boards are one of the ultimate DIY toys for toddlers. Find a sturdy board and attach different everyday items like locks, zippers, and latches for your child to explore. These boards help toddlers practice manipulating objects and build problem-solving skills.
What you’ll need:
- A wooden board or cardboard
- Items like locks, zippers, switches, and Velcro
Why it works: Busy boards offer hands-on learning and improve fine motor skills by allowing toddlers to engage with real-life objects in a safe way
4. CArdboard Texture Busy Board
While working on the ebook Fun Under 1 for babies, I created a sensory board. Similar to the one I did for him when he was small. While taking the photos, he quickly joined in to play with the baby. He wanted to explore using his feet.
5. DIY Play Dough
Homemade play dough is a classic DIY toy for toddlers, and it’s easy to whip up in your kitchen. You can create soft, squishy play dough that provides hours of fun with just flour, salt, water, and food coloring.
What you’ll need:
- Flour
- Salt
- Water
- Food coloring (optional)
Why it works: Playdough enhances sensory development and fine motor skills. It’s also a great way to introduce toddlers to early concepts of texture, color, and shapes.
6. DIY Shape Sorter
What you’ll need:
- Empty cereal box
- Foam or cardboard for shapes
- Scissors and tape
Why it works: Shape sorters are excellent for teaching toddlers about shapes, colors, and problem-solving while developing their hand-eye coordination.
7. Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin
Create a colorful sensory bin using dyed rice. Simply mix rice with a few drops of food coloring and vinegar in a ziplock bag, shake until the rice is evenly colored, and let it dry. Add measuring spoons, cups, and small toys for your toddler to scoop, pour, and explore.
What you’ll need:
- Rice
- Food coloring
- Vinegar
- Measuring spoons, cups, or small toys
Why it works: Sensory bins are excellent for fine motor skills, sensory exploration, and imaginative play. The different textures and colors make it a favorite for toddlers.
Peek-a-boo game with a Milk Carton
I am on a mission to work on his pincer grasp skills to help him develop the muscles and coordination he will need one day when learning to grab a pencil. This small hole at the top only gives a little space for the pom-poms to fit in. He has to work on his concentration and perfect his fine motor skills.
Felt Fishing Game
Turn felt pieces into fish and attach paper clips to each one. Then, create a fishing rod using a stick, string, and a magnet. Your toddler can ‘catch’ the fish by guiding the magnet to the paper clip!
What you’ll need:
- Felt sheets
- Paper clips
- Stick or dowel
- String and small magnet
Why it works: This game improves hand-eye coordination and helps toddlers develop concentration and patience.
Drop and search Activity
All you need is a cardboard box with 3 holes and a ball.
This is our favorite game; we love playing with it, and I am surprised it is still holding up! See how to play the ball drop game here
Create a maze with a cardboard box
This one is definitely for older toddlers. My one-year-old still doesn’t understand the concept of having to move the box to guide the ball to drop in the hole. For now, we’ll hold on to it, as I know it is a great, easy game.
A path made with recycled Amazon bubble wrap envelopes
I opened a few puffy envelopes with bubble wrap inside and taped them onto the floor. We took off our shoes and made our way back and forth on the path. Talk about sensory exploration with your feet!
A musical Tower
This is a variation of one of the baby activities from the ebook Fun Under 1. We created musical instruments using recycled containers and rice or pasta. We then stacked them up as high as we could. When they fell… MUSIC! He loved it, he laughed, and we can’t wait to do it again and again. Encourage them to build towers, knock them down, and explore different ways to arrange the cups.
What you’ll need:
- Plastic or paper cups
- anything that they can stack
Why it works: Stacking cups helps toddlers develop hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and problem-solving as they figure out the best way to balance and stack.
A Parmesan container and dried pasta
Pincer’s grasp took it to the next level! What a challenge this was for him! You could see he was practicing his concentration to make sure he could place each tiny dried pasta into the parmesan cheese container holes.
There is so much you can do with colored dried pasta!
Box with Q-tips and pencil holes.
We have been playing with this toy for a while. I have to change the Q-tips often because we use it a lot, but it is a great activity for working on concentration and pre-writing skills—working with the hand muscles that will later teach him how to hold a pencil.
Egg Carton Caterpillars
Transform an empty egg carton into cute caterpillars by cutting it into sections, painting them, and adding googly eyes and pipe cleaner antennae. It’s a fun craft that turns into a DIY toy!
What you’ll need:
- Empty egg carton
- Paint or markers
- Googly eyes and pipe cleaners
Why it works: Crafting these caterpillars develops your toddler’s creativity and fine motor skills, while the final product offers an adorable new toy for imaginative play.
Conclusion
Creating Conclusion
Creating DIY toys for toddlers is a budget-friendly way to keep your little one entertained and fosters creativity, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. The best part? You don’t need any fancy tools or materials to get started. You can craft fun, engaging, and educational toys that your toddler will love with everyday household items.
Do you have any favorite DIY toys for toddlers you’ve made for your toddler? Share them in the comments below! And if you’re looking for more toddler-friendly activities, check out our Kid Activities with Alexa for more ideas.