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Toys to Make for Three to Five Year Olds

If you have a child, you know how expensive toys can get, but you can save yourself some cash and create toys on your own that your 3- to 5-year-old child will love. Many of the types of toys preschoolers play with haven't changed much over the years, and if you're the crafty sort, you can even create items that will work with toys your children already have.

Dolls and Doll Clothes
- If you're looking for a toy to make for a preschool-age girl, try a doll. At 3 to 5 years old, pretend play begins. Girls this age play with a variety of dolls, from Barbie to baby dolls to homemade rag dolls. If the girl you're making something for already has more than enough dolls, make doll clothes instead. You can purchase doll clothes patterns from fabric and craft stores, find some free patterns online or create your own if you have the right size doll on hand.
Costumes
- Give a 3- to 5-year-old the gift of pretend by creating costumes. Make a simple white coat with the child's name on the front for a doctor's coat. For a girl who likes to dance, create a tutu or two. Both boys and girls with a love for superheroes will enjoy a cape to wear on their daring escapades. If you have a pirate lover, make an eye patch, a vest and other pirate items to fulfill the role. If you create more than one costume, make or decorate a chest to use as a costume chest to keep everything together.
Vehicles
- Trains, planes, cars and boats all capture the imaginations of children, especially little boys. If you're handy, create toy vehicles out of wood, or purchase a plastic or metal model kit. If the child already has a wooden train track, see if you can borrow a piece of extra track so you can size your vehicles to fit in that world. Paint items in a realistic manner or make them look like favorite characters, such as Thomas the Tank Engine.

Childrens Toys