All of these toys are fairly easy and inexpensive to make. Some are knock-offs of brand name toys, and some of these toy ideas are truly original. One thing is certain – they’re all perfect if you like to give kids handmade gifts at Christmas, birthdays or any day!
Homemade Lacing Toys:
These simple lacing frames are easy to make and great for helping little ones develop their fine motor skills. - Babble Dabble Do
Shaped foam lacers are easy for little hands to grip and a fun way to practice threading skills. - Powerful Mothering
I adore this all-natural, stick threading game by Mini Eco.
Homemade Felt Toys for Toddlers:
Here’s a soft and colourful way for toddlers to explore the alphabet: stuffed, hand-sewn felt letters by Buggy and Buddy.
Make a no-sew, alphabet pocket chart to help little ones learn their letters. – Lalymom
I see countless hours of creating and re-creating here with this gorgeous potato head felt set. – jocelynandjasonblogspot
DIY Activity boards for the playroom or classroom:
Babies and toddlers will LOVE exploring all the textures and gadgets on these awesome sensory boards by Fun at Home with Kids.
Make a latch board like Domesticesq did with random bits and bobs from the work shop or hardware store.
My boys would’ve LOVED a life-sized dashboard like this one made from used parts. – And Next Comes L
Upcycled Homemade Dollhouses:
Got cardboard? Handmade Charlotte shares 6 ways to make a dollhouse out of a cardboard box.
Mama Papa Bubba shows you how she and her daughter made this simple but beautifuldollhouse from an inexpensive bookshelf.
Check out how Roadkill Rescue turned an old dresser into a larger-than-life Barbie house. Handy storage drawer in the bottom!
Upcycle the drawers from an old bedside table into this adorably charming dollhouse by Semi Proper.
Homemade Stamps:
6 ways to make homemade stamps for toddlers using common household items. – Happy Hooligans
Help your little one learn to spell his name with this simple homemade name stamp by Mama Papa Bubba.
Decorate homemade cards, wrapping paper or fabric projects with this spring flower wine-cork stamp. Happy Hooligans
Kids can make imprints in play dough with these rustic tree block stamps by Two-da-loo.
Toys from upcycled furniture:
I adore this workbench/tool station that The Frugal Granny made from an old bedside table.
How about this AMAZING upcycle? A deluxe play kitchen made from an old tv/entertainment cabinet! – Giggleberry Creations
Fresh Crush transformed a night-stand into a play kitchen for about $30 using cast-offs and inexpensive accessories.
Homemade toys for babies:
Turn your recyclables into a variety of colourful, fine-motor toys for babies and young toddlers. The Imagination Tree
Crafts on Sea has a homemade tag blanket that will delight babies with its crinkling sound and soft, satiny tags.
Childhood 101 shows you how to turn your family photos into a cloth baby book for your little one to enjoy.
Homemade Sock Toys:
Attempting Aloha transforms a sock into a glamorous hobby-horse that any little rider would love.
Turn a sock into an adorable baby rattle with some stuffing and a few simple stitches. – Homemade by Jill
Toys from the Recycle Bin:
An empty plastic bottle + 3 basic kitchen ingredients = a mesmerizing “ocean in a bottle”. – Happy Hooligans
Kids who love to build will enjoy this homemade construction set made from a few pieces of sturdy cardboard – Happy Hooligans
Teach shapes, colours, letters and numbers with this cardboard box turned drop box. The kids have been using ours for years.
Homemade Toys for Outdoors:
It would be so dreamy to spend an afternoon reading in one of these Hula Hoop Hideouts. – Alanna George
Ok, I totally want to hang out on this DIY water blob by Homemade Toast. Bonus: It’s leak-proof!
Check out how Dyan turned a few dollar-store shower curtains into this awesome toddler parachute. – And Next Comes L
Homemade Quiet Books:
A quiet book is perfect for those times when you need to keep your kids busy… and quiet. I lovethis no-sew version by Powerful Mothering.
This busy book by Mouse House has “pages” of colourful quiet activities to keep little hands busy and learning.
Homemade Activity Boards:
Turn an inexpensive oil-drip pan into a gigantic magnet board for the playroom or classroom. – Mama Miss
Make an outdoor easel for your kids to get artsy and creative with in the backyard. – Fantastic Fun and Learning
See how Mama Papa Bubba quickly turned an inexpensive frame into a homemade felt board.
*Want to know an easy way to cut your own felt pieces for your felt board? Check out this awesome felt-cutting tutorial by Juggling with Kids.
Homemade Doll Toys:
Make a fabric doll sling for your little one to carry her babies around in. – Mama Smiles
Check out this whimsical family of wooden spoon dolls decorated by Jess Quinn.
Paint up a set of wooden alphabet dolls for play and learning. – No Time for Flashcards
This really is the best-ever play dough! It keeps for months, so it’s perfect to make ahead and give as a gift. - The Imagination Tree
Did you know you can make your own silly putty? - Coffee Cups and Crayons shows us how.
Homemade Indoor Hopscotch:
I had fun making this homemade cardboard hopscotch. Laying the tiles out helps the hooligans with their number recognition and ordering skills.
Make a new-sew hopscotch mat that you can roll up and tuck away when not in use. There are games on the reverse side too! - A girl with a Glue Gun
Homemade Forts and Tents:
Set up a 5-minute teepee in the backyard! What a magical place for a little one to spend a summer afternoon. – Mama Papa Bubba
For those of you who like to sew, Cakies shows you how to make a simple A-frame tent for the kids to use indoors or out.
Homemade Puzzles for Toddlers:
Adventure in a Box shows you how to make a wooden name puzzle for your child. You’ll have this lovely keepsake for years.
Turn a set of wooden blocks and some family photos into these nifty, interchangeable people puzzles. – Meaningful Mama
Homemade Toys for Gross Motor Development:
See how Hello Wonderful turned a skateboard deck into homemade balance board to help develop core and large-motor strength.
Build a set of simple wood block stompers. They can be used at two different heights depending on the age of your child. – I Can Teach My Child
This bucket and rope contraption was free to make, and it’s provided hundreds of hours of open-ended play here in our backyard.
Homemade Coloured and Textured Blocks:
Fun with Kids at Home shows us how to easily add a pop of vibrant colour to a set of plain wooden blocks. So gorgeous!
Babies and toddlers will love exploring the colours and textures of these homemade sensory blocks. – Fireflies and Mudpies
$3 bucks, a trip to the dollar-store, and some hot-glue will get you this fab set of coloured light blocks. -And Next Comes L
Fine Motor Toys to Make for Kids:
A colourful button snake is easy to make and helps little ones develop their fine motor and buttoning skills. – Happy Hooligans
Put together a sewing basket filled with lots of goodies for a preschooler to explore and practice early sewing skills with.
I just love Crayon Box Chronicles’ homemade geo board. Little ones can sharpen their fine motor skills while learning about shapes and geometry with rubber bands or fabric loops.
Stones for Play:
Make an adorable stone tic-tac-toe game to match your child’s favourite colours, like this one from Eighteen 25.
Paint up a set of non-traditional, rock dominoes for the kids to play and learn with. – Childcareland Blog
Story Stones are fun and easy to make, and great for narrative play, and developing story-telling skills. – Happy Hooligans
Alphabet stones are perfect for a game of outdoor “hangman” or to simply teach your child their letters through open-ended play.
Homemade Toys for Car-Loving Kids:
Turn your old jeans into fabric roads! Easy to make, and to stash in the diaper bag when you’re going out. – Lil Mop Top
Visit Picklebums to get these free, printable roads. Your kids can build a whole city!
Buggy and Buddy painted up a set of simple wooden roads and ramps for her son. Think of the hours of fun these would provide.
If you love to sew, this amazing car mat would be a super project and keepsake to make for your child or grandchild. – Homemade by Jill
Homemade Play Kitchen Toys:
And Next Comes L has some great felt food ideas that you can make for your child’s play kitchen.
Turn a package of inexpensive kitchen sponges into colourful foam cakes and cookies like the ones Inner Child Fun made.
LOVE this! Turn a plastic storage container into a pretend cook-top. Store the baking instruments inside! – And Next Comes L
Make an inexpensive, portable light box using a kitchen storage container and an LED light. Store the toys inside!
And Next Comes L shows you how to turn a basic pegboard into a light bright game for your home or classroom.
Want a full-size light table for much less than it costs to buy one? Check out this step-by-step tutorial from And Next Comes L.
More homemade blocks to make:
I love these colourful magnetic blocks that You Clever Monkey made for their magnet board.
How inviting are these Waldorf-inspired nature blocks that Adventure in a Box made. What a lovely way to build and create.
And last, but not least: take your block building into a new dimension (literally) with a set of these homemade velcro blocks by Chasing Cheerios.
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