DIY: Make Your Own Children’s Toys
When Meredith wrote earlier this week about steeling herself , she mentioned perhaps starting to make her own toys for her children. I am no expert on such a thing, but thought I would share a DIY toy that my brother and I made together last summer for my son. My son, then 15 months old, was obsessed with all things snaps, hooks, buttons. Instead of constantly distracting him from playing with those things around our family's cottage, we made him a toy where he could play with those things to his heart's content.
These photos actually feature my daughter playing with it because she's 4 and wants whatever someone else has.
We took a piece of wood and sanded and smoothed it a lot. Then attached hooks, snaps, straps and little wooden legs for it to set on the floor on.
Hours of entertainment in buckling, hooking and straping for both of my kids. It was really inexpensive, we don't have to worry about Made in China, and there's a definite peace in my kids playing with something that I know what it's made from and where it originated.
Other make your own children's toys ideas:
Games Toys Arts and Crafts Ideas for Kids
Avoid Recalls: Make Your Own Toys
Build It Yourself
related posts:
- Simple Toys The 'what's in my hand' approach to making do is...
- Traveling With Children A few days ago our 19 year old came home...
- Getting Ready For the Holidays I loved Meredith's post yesterday about cheerful frugality and giving...
- How to Cut Costs, Even With Children Around If you belong to the DINK (double income, no kids...
- Measuring the Cost of Children Recently, I have again been reading articles discussing the extraordinary...
One Response to “DIY: Make Your Own Children’s Toys”
January 11th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I’m taking a slightly different approach to the issue of what to do for playthings once the new law is enforced: re-introduction of old toys from storage. I estimate my children have about 250 toys. They play with about 10 of them. I’m boxing about 90% of their toys in the playroom and in their bedroom and putting it in the attic. I’ll rotate thru the boxes every few months as needed. My kids forget about a toy once it’s out of sight, and it’s funny how they love “discovering new” toys out of storage! Now, they’re only 3 and 5, so while it works for younger children, it may not work for older kids. I only wish I hadn’t gotten rid of all our old baby gear two years ago when we thought we were thru having kids. Now, we’re having our 3rd baby in July, and it sounds like I may not be able to count on yard sale goods this spring to get all the gear I’m going to need. Sigh. Guess I’ll just go the minimalist route, since we can’t afford new strollers, changing table, etc.
Leave a Comment