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How many times have you seen this happen during the holidays? Parents spent a small fortune on the latest, greatest toy. After a few smiles and giggles, the parents take the toy out of its huge box and proceed to assemble it. Meanwhile, the child finds the box quite fascinating. When the toy is fully assembled, the child is so absorbed in the box that he no longer has any desire to play with the expensive toy.

This scenario is repeated house after house across the country. The lesson is that children are easily entertained and homemade toys can be created from everyday materials that can easily grab their attention. Here are some ideas for making homemade toys easily.

One idea for a homemade toy is a car with a cardboard box. Take a large cardboard box and make a hole in the top and cut out the bottom. Decorate it like a car, using paper plates for the wheels and steering wheel. Your child will enjoy “driving” this car around the house!

Make a handmade bubble blower from a roll of toilet paper. Wrap the roll with aluminum foil. Make bubbles by mixing liquid dish soap with water. Dip one end of the roll into the mixture and gently blow through the other end. You should be able to create very large bubbles easily!

Make a ball game out of a quart plastic milk jug. Cut the jug in half and keep the side of the handle. Throw a ball back and forth and use the pitcher to catch the ball.

The model airplanes can be made with the polystyrene trays on which the meat is packed. Cut out the shape of the body, wings and tail. Use a knife to cut a slit in the body for the wings and tail. Because Styrofoam is so light, these planes can fly a decent distance.

A personalized homemade toy is the homemade puzzle. Ask your child to create a drawing or other work of art. Glue the artwork onto a piece of cardboard. After it’s dry, turn the cardboard over and trace the shapes of the puzzle pieces. Carefully cut out these shapes. Your child will enjoy putting together his or her artwork. Store the puzzle in a ziplock bag.

Another Homemade Bean Throwing Game is another fun and active toy to create. Take a sturdy piece of cardboard and drill holes to create the targets. Make sure the holes are large enough to fit the bag. Then make some ottomans. Take scraps of fabric and fill them with beans or pasta. Sew them by hand. Ask your child to decorate the target and score the holes. Then have fun throwing bean bags at the target!

Whichever toy you decide to make, be sure to include your child in the toy making process. Not only will you create a fun toy, but you will also create lifelong memories with your child. Using what would be garbage to make a fun toy also helps protect our environment.

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