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Homemade toys

Have a read of our Hot Topics articles on homemade toys and activities for kids to make and play with at home. They’ll keep your toddlers and pre-schoolers busy for hours.

From finger puppets, to bubble mixture, homemade clay, foam sand, toys on a budget and a whole lot more!
Magnetic puzzles for toddlers & preschoolers

Magnetic puzzles for toddlers & preschoolers

Have a go at making your own magnetic puzzles. Magnetic puzzles add a fun dimension to puzzling that toddlers and preschoolers can’t resist. Pieces stay in place and no more stepping over puzzles on the floor or searching for lost pieces.
Make your own jam jar aquarium

Make your own jam jar aquarium

Have a go at creating your own mini aquarium in an old jam jar. It’s easy to do and the kids will love how the glitter and sea creatures swirl around inside the jar. The aquariums also make great party decorations and party favours for kids to take home instead of a party bag.
Make your own zip sensory board

Make your own zip sensory board

Interactive zip sensory boards or busy boards are really easy to make and great for developing your toddler’s fine motor skills. Zip sensory boards are hands-on and engaging, and a great learning through play and sensory activity. All you need are some old zips of different colours and sizes, stiff card or an old cardboard box and glue.
Make your own sensory board

Make your own sensory board

A sensory board or busy board is a fun, hands-on activity for babies and toddlers to help them touch, explore and learn about different objects all in one place. They have lots of developmental benefits too and are really easy to make at home with things you have to hand.
25 Fun activities to keep your toddler busy

25 Fun activities to keep your toddler busy

Finding fun activities to keep your toddler busy isn’t always easy! Toddlers have a short attention span and are always on the go, so we have put together some tried and tested ideas. Things they will love to do and don’t need a lot of preparation or cleaning up afterwards.
Make your own recycled robots

Make your own recycled robots

With perhaps a little help from you, kids will have lots of fun making their own recycled robots with items you're recycling or already have around the house. Making recycled robots teaches kids about recycling every day items and giving them another purpose, instead of just throwing them away. It is also a great activity for using their imagination, concentration and problem solving skills.
Make your own sand foam

Make your own sand foam

Have a go at making your own sand foam! It’s very easy to do and uses just 2 ingredients! The sand foam has a smooth, slimy, grainy texture and is great for sensory play.
13 Ideas for toys on a budget

13 Ideas for toys on a budget

Kids are happy to just play and really don’t need big, expensive, brand-name toys to keep them occupied. Here are some cheap and easy things you can make at home to keep them amused for hours.
Make your own paper stickers

Make your own paper stickers

Make your own paper stickers with the kids with these easy instructions. Homemade paper stickers are a cheap and fun craft activity that toddlers and preschoolers will love doing.
Make your own bubble mixture

Make your own bubble mixture

Homemade bubbles are lots of fun! They are also very easy and cheap to make with this bubble mixture recipe. Blowing bubbles will get your toddler or preschooler outside, popping and chasing the bubbles as they run around.
Make your own bubble wrap runway

Make your own bubble wrap runway

So easy to do at home and guaranteed hours of fun. The kids will love running, crawling, sliding and skidding up and down their own bubble wrap runway.
Make your own erupting snow

Make your own erupting snow

Erupting snow is a simple sensory and messy play activity you can make at home. It's easy to set up using basic household ingredients and will keep your kids entertained for ages. The snow is soft and powdery and even feels cool to the touch. It’s just like playing with real snow, but without the frostbite!
Make your own rainbow salt tray

Make your own rainbow salt tray

Have a go at making your own rainbow salt tray. Toddlers and preschoolers will have lots of fun watching the colours come through when they draw pictures, create patterns and write their name in the salt. It is cheap to set up and you will already have the items at home.
How to make magic rainbow milk

How to make magic rainbow milk

Have a go at making your own Magic Rainbow Milk. Kids of all ages will love it! Magic Rainbow Milk is cheap, quick and easy to set up and if you do it outside (highly recommended!), there’s not too much mess to clean up afterwards.
Kids flower art activity

Kids flower art activity

Kids will have fun making their own garden fairies, especially over summer when plants are in full bloom. Teach them the names of the flowers that you use, discuss the different shades of colour and how plants grow.
How to make fairy flowers

How to make fairy flowers

Kids will love being creative and making their own Fairy Flowers with different materials. Teach them about the seasons and how plants grow, and help them to understand and appreciate nature.
Painted feet art

Painted feet art

Painted feet art makes a great personal gift for kids to give to family and friends, especially on Valentine's Day. You could try framing their artwork too to make it extra special. Have a go at making your own with these easy instructions.
Rubber glove finger puppets

Rubber glove finger puppets

So easy to make and the characters you can create are endless! All you need is a rubber glove, glue, decorations and lots of imagination!
Make your own glitter glue

Make your own glitter glue

Have a go at this very easy recipe for glitter glue! Perfect for adding sparkle to all sorts of kids crafts, paintings and creations.
Make your own glue sponge

Make your own glue sponge

Have a go at making your own glue sponge for the kids to use. Homemade glue sponges are super cheap to make and really easy to put together at home. They also last a surprisingly long time and stop you from having sticky glue everywhere! Glue sponges are great to use for your kids arts and crafts projects and can be sealed up ready for use next time.
Easy beezies

Easy beezies

Follow these easy steps on how to make an awesome bee to pop up in a flower pot or hang from the ceiling using an old mustard bottle, some electrical tape and a few other bits and bobs lying around the house!
Make your own recycled trucks

Make your own recycled trucks

Recycling can be so much fun! Kids will love playing with these recycled trucks made from old plastic bottles or containers and other items you have around the house. Building recycled trucks comes with benefits too, getting kids to use their imagination and concentration skills as they come up with different designs.
Make your own ball bath

Make your own ball bath

It may be cold and wet outside, but the kids can still have fun inside with this fun ball bath idea. No water required!
Make your own toy sail boats

Make your own toy sail boats

These toy sail boats are easy to make and perfect for summer time. Kids can play with them in a paddling pool or bucket of water, or even in the bath before bed. They are great as an educational tool too.

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