Hobbies And Interests
Musical Instruments
Kids will enjoy making their own musical instruments from common household items. One of the simplest instruments children can make is a tambourine. First, get two paper plates, some glue or masking tape, and some dried beans. Place a handful of dried beans on a paper plate. Using glue or masking tape, attach the bottom of the second paper plate to the plate holding the beans. Your child can then use markers, crayons or nontoxic paint to decorate the homemade tambourine.
If you have some colorful crepe paper streamers or ribbons, you can glue them around the instrument as well. Your child can play the instrument by shaking the tambourine. The beans rattle against the paper plates, making a rhythmic noise. If you wish to make a maraca, simply use two paper cups and fill them with dried beans. Glue or tape the rims of the cups together and you'll have a smaller percussion instrument.
Another idea for a homemade musical toy is a drum. An empty cardboard oatmeal canister and a wooden spoon are all you need to make this popular percussion instrument for kids. Stretching rubber bands over a shoebox will make a homemade toy guitar that your kids can strum to make music as well.
Puppets
Playing with puppets allows children to use their imaginations as they create stories for their puppets to act out. Kids can write their own scripts, build scenery and put on shows for the family or other kids in the neighborhood. The simplest puppets kids can make are bag puppets or stick puppets. Bag puppets are made from lunch bags, a common item found in many homes. Children use the flap at the bottom of the bag for the puppet's mouth. They can decorate the bag puppet with yarn hair, button eyes, and construction paper or felt clothing. A stick puppet can be created by drawing a character on a paper plate and gluing a craft stick to the end. More sophisticated puppets can be made from old socks. A child sticks his or her arm into the sock, using the heel of the sock as the puppet's mouth.
Board Games
Using a piece of poster board or cardboard, kids can design their own game board and devise rules for a game. They can use coins or other small objects as game pieces. Making a game requires that kids use both their creativity and logic. After they make the game, they can have fun playing the board game with their friends. Once again, this type of homemade toy does not require parents to spend money. Kids are limited only by their imaginations.