I am always wanting to buy my kids new toys and fun things. Usually I get it under control and refrain. and sometimes, if I think about the toy long enough, I decide to make a version of it myself. So here are five toys we made in the last couple of months totally free–and easy enough to do as a craft with your kid:
Sock puppets. These socks had been missing their mates when I cleaned out my drawer a couple months ago, and we got it into our heads to make puppets after reading If you Give a Moose a Muffin. Of course, as soon as I made them, I found the mate to the green sock under the washing machine. We may have to make another frog puppet soon.
New puzzles. My mom used Mod Podge (paint both sides of the picture with it to avoid wrinkling) to glue magazine pictures to cardboard, and then she cut them with a razor blade after they dried.
Rings to practice stringing or…
a snake! A papertowel tube or two was sacrificed for this one. (old spools [above] are a bead to string for the more advanced.)
A Personalized Memory game. I used blank index cards–just make sure it’s something you can’t see through. This has been played with more so far than several toys we own .
A playhouse–personally decorated.
No, these do not look professional, but the kid won’t care, and then you don’t feel bad about throwing them away when you’re done with them.
Let me know if you have any other ideas for quick, free toys!
The Strategic Homemaker 