You can turn the most unlikely household object into something fun and interesting for your child.
Find below some simple suggestions for at-home toy making that can easily be customised to suit.
Tissue box surprise
Great for children between 6 and 18months.
You will need: Tissue box, wrapping paper and small household items.
Instead of throwing out used tissue boxes, cover them in some brightly covered paper, leaving the hole open. Fill them with household objects of different shapes, sizes and textures,
Your child will enjoy putting their hands into the box and feeling the different objects. Younger babies will find this interesting in itself, and older toddlers can play at guessing the objects in the box.
Boats
Great for children of any age.
You will need: A butter or margarine tub, a straw and a thick plastic bag
Reuse old butter and margarine tubs for great bath time boats. Affix a straw to the inside of the box by cutting the end of the straw into strips and flaring out the ends, gluing to the inside base of the boat.
Attach a triangle of plastic for the sail, taken from a good quality plastic bag.
Musical shakers
Great for children aged 6 - 18 months.
You will need: an old moisurising tub, some dried pulses.
Empty moisturising tubs make great shakers for little hands. Wash out any excess product and remove the label.
Fill with a tablespoon of dried pusles such pearl barley or lentils, and you have an instant musical shaker that you can use with action songs, baby discos or simply on their own.
Drums
Great for children aged 18 months onwards.
Simply reuse margarine tubs and wooden spoons as an excellent alternative to shop bought drums. Saucepan lids make great cymbals - just be prepared for the noise!
