More toys!
Shoebox Train
Pull your toys in a shoebox choo-choo train. Paint the boxes to look
like train cars. Then punch a hole in the ends of each box. Tie the
boxes together with string and buttons.
Toddler Pull-Toy
Help a toddler make this fun toy. Punch a hole in the top and bottom of
an empty round box. Thread a long piece of yarn or string through the
holes and tie the ends together. Put a handful of seeds in the box. Tape
the top to the box. Decorate the box.
Tops
Tops are easy to make. And they’re good toys, both indoors and out. You
can make all kinds of tops with spools, jar lids, or any other round
object in which you can punch a hole. Or, cut out a circle from stiff
cardboard and poke a hole in the center. Push a stick, pencil, or nail
through the hole. To hold the stick in place, wind rubber bands around
it above and below the cardboard.
Twirlers
A twirler will give you a surprise when you color it and watch it twirl.
Use a compass, a can top, or a pencil and a string to draw a 4-inch
(10-cm) circle on stiff cardboard. Cut out the circle and color it, as
shown. Punch Q two holes in the circle, each about g- inch (9 mm) from
the center of the circle. Thread about 2 feet (60 cm) of string through
the holes and tie the ends together. Twist the string and then stretch
it out to make the twirler spin.
Tin-Can Stilts
Walk tall on these tin-can stilts. Start with two large coffee cans. Ask
a grown-up to use a hammer and nail to punch two holes near the unopened
end of each can. Thread plastic clothesline through the holes and tie
the ends together. Pull up on the strings with your hands as you walk on
your tin-can stilts.
Parachute Pilot
Toss this parachute into the air and watch the pilot float to the
ground. Cut four pieces of thin string, each about 12 inches (30 cm)
long. Tie the strings to the corners of a large handkerchief. Then tie
all four strings together. For the pilot, tie a wooden spool or
clothespin to the string. Fold the corners of the parachute into the
middle. Then roll it up and toss it into the air.
Picture Puzzles
Glue a magazine picture or a map on a piece of thin cardboard. Cut the
picture into puzzle pieces. If you’re using a map, cut along the state
or province lines. Now try to put the puzzle together.
Catch-Can
Catch-Can is a skill game you can play by yourself. Ask a grown-up to
use a hammer and nail to punch a hole in the bottom of a small vegetable
or soup can. Thread about 12 inches (30 cm) of string through the hole.
Tie a heavy button to each end of the string. Let the string hang down
outside the can. Hold the can in your hand. Now swing the string and try
to catch the button in the can.
Flying Saucers
Play flying-saucer catch with a friend. To make your own flying saucers,
decorate plastic coffee-can lids.
Gadget Friends
You can put on a puppet show with these gadget friends. Old
toothbrushes, whisk brooms, wooden spoons, work gloves, corks, sponges,
feather dusters, and scouring pads are good things to use. To turn the
gadgets into friends, decorate them with paint and bits of string, yarn,
and cloth.
Cars and Trucks
You can use shoeboxes and milk cartons to make cars and trucks that
roll. Use pencils for the axles. Tape them to the bottom of a box. Cut
out circles from stiff cardboard for the wheels. Poke holes in the
center of the circles. Wind rubber bands around the axles, put on the
wheels, and wind on more rubber bands to hold the wheels in place. To
make your cars look like trucks, fire engines, or ambulances, glue on
other boxes and decorate them.
