Ever notice how babies and young children are happier to play with the wrapping paper than the expensive toy you bought for them? Babies’ minds are simple and their toys should be simple too. Here are some ideas of toys you can easily make at home by reusing old containers and recycling packaging. These ideas are for toys that are completely free, will stimulate your baby, and recycling household items at the same time.
Noisemakers. Rattles and noisemakers make fun and stimulating toys for young babies and are easy to make. You can use plastic bottles of any size or type, but I recommend ones with screw-on lids to prevent them from being opened. Fill a bottle partially with rice or dried beans and tightly screw on the lid.
Stuff a pair of socks inside itself along with a small bell. Make sure the bell is deep inside the socks so the baby can’t pull it out, or sew the socks together to keep the bell secure.
Blocks. Homemade blocks can be made from any sort of cardboard box or carton. You could recycle milk or cream cartons, and cereal, granola bar or cracker boxes to make blocks in a variety of sizes. Stuff the boxes lightly with newspaper and seal shut. If you wish you could cover them in paper and decorate as desired. This might be a fun craft for older children to make for their young siblings.
Plastic tubs provide great variety of play options. You can fill them with noisemakers, fill them with water or sand and dump them out, stack them upside down (or with lids on) to build things, or nest different sizes together.
Lids. Save frozen juice can lids or milk lids and use them to make toys for your baby. You could punch holes in them with a knife and string them together to make a noise maker. Another option with these items is to make a sorting container. For a container, use a can with a lid such as a coffee, bread crumb or formula can. Cut a slit or an X in the lid of the container, large enough for the smaller lids to fit through. Help a younger baby put the lids into the can to make a fun noise. For an older toddler, color the lids different colors and have your child sort by color.
Matching game. Another idea for a homemade toy using frozen juice can lids is a matching game. Using permanent markers or paint, color, draw pictures or write letters or words on each juice can lid. Make sure you have matching pairs such as two lids of the same color, or a lid with a picture of a cow and a lid with the word “COW” on it. You can play this as a memory game or just have the child match the lids up.
Things from around the house. There are many household items babies and toddlers love to play with which require no work at all. These include calculators, old cards such as library, insurance and ID cards, food storage containers and lids, wooden and plastic kitchen utensils, and old telephones.
