From tin can bowling and paper plate ring toss, to shape and colour matching, these DIY games are inexpensive to make, and young children will have hours of fun helping make them and then playing with them afterwards.
Bowling with tin cans
This game may be a little noisy, but it’s tons of fun.
You will need
- 6 empty, clean cans with the labels removed
- Craft paint
- Paintbrush or foam brush
- Googly eyes
- Pom-poms
- Craft glue
- Ball
Method
- Paint the tins and allow them to dry.
- Glue on the googly eyes and pom-pom nose and allow to dry.
- Stack them three at the bottom, then two in the middle, and one on top.
Paper plate ring toss
A little skill and a touch of luck are needed to get the rings over the centre tube but practice makes perfect.
You will need
- Paper plates
- Cardboard tubes
- Pencil
- Paint
- Scissors
- Paintbrushes or foam brushes
- Tape
Method
- Paint the backs of the paper plates.
- When they’re dry, cut out the centre of places leaving the outer ring.
- Take the cardboard tube and draw around it, on the centre of two plates and cut out.
- Push the cardboard tube through the centre of the plate. If it’s a bit wobbly, secure it on the underside with some tape.
Clowning around
This game is good for hand-eye coordination, as your little one moves the box around to get the ball through the clown’s nose.
You will need
- Cardboard box with sides
- Pencil
- Craft paint
- Paintbrush
- Craft knife
- Plastic ball
Method
- Draw the circle (the clown’s nose) on the inside of the box and then draw the outline of a clown’s face.
- Make sure the hole is big enough for a ball to fall through.
- Paint the face and outline it with a thin line of black paint.
- Cut out the centre of the hole.
Matching colours and shapes
Playing this game is a perfect time to discuss colours and the names of shapes.
You will need
- A large piece of cardboard
- Paper
- Marking pen
- Scissors
- Velcro tape
- Glue
- Felt
Method
- Draw different shapes on a piece of paper and cut them out.
- Use the shapes as templates to trace the same shapes onto the cardboard.
- Make matching templates on the felt and cut out.
- Cut 2cm strips of Velcro (the side with the hooks) and glue them into the shapes on the cardboard.
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