11 Easy Ways to Make Cardboard Toys at Home

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Parents can absolutely make their own cardboard toys for their children. Cardboard is an easy-to-find material that can be transformed into many interesting toys. So let’s explore with AVAKids how to make super fun cardboard toys!

Why should you make cardboard toys for children?

Nowadays, instead of expensive toys, many parents tend to make their own toys for their children from simple materials easily found around the house. The reasons to make cardboard toys for children include:

  • Spending time making cardboard toys and playing with children not only helps them have beautiful childhood memories but also helps bond family members together.
  • This beneficial activity will help stimulate children’s creativity and desire to learn.
  • While making cardboard toys, parents should introduce the uses, operating principles, and applications of the product so that children can gain more useful knowledge for their development.
  • Handmade toys will help overcome children’s addiction to phones and electronic devices.
  • Using materials like cardboard is one of the most practical ways to teach children about environmental protection. Through this, parents also develop skills for children aged 3-6.
  • Toys made from recycled materials are very inexpensive, so parents can save money while still creating creative and unique products for their children.
Why should you make cardboard toys for children?

Why should you make cardboard toys for children?

Instructions for making super fun cardboard toys

1. Toy Car

How to make:

  • First, use a pen to draw the outline of the car on the cardboard, then use scissors and cut precisely along those lines.
  • To make the car more sturdy, parents need to fix the corners and joints with glue or colored tape.
  • Finally, after the frame is done, parents use a brush to paint the cardboard surface to make the product look more vivid and eye-catching.

Parents can make toy cars for children from many different materials. Parents can also refer to how to make a toy car from milk cartons, which is extremely simple.

Making cardboard toys for children

Making a toy car from cardboard for children

2. Toy Car Garage

How to make:

  • First, parents use scissors to cut off the lid and bottom of the box to create pieces of cardboard of different sizes. Then use glue to stick those pieces of cardboard together so that it resembles a parking garage frame.
  • Finally, when the correct frame is achieved, parents just need to color and draw some appropriate symbols to make the toy product more eye-catching and lively.
Making cardboard toys

A colorful and creative parking garage

3. Cardboard Kitchen

How to make:

  • First, parents use a utility knife to cut the cardboard into the shapes of an oven, refrigerator door, and stove.
  • Then use masking tape to seal the gaps to secure the product. Combine with a glue gun to make a 3-tier cabinet.
  • When the product frame is complete, use non-toxic paint or decorative paper to decorate the outside to make the finished product more eye-catching and attractive.
  • Now you’ve finished a paper toy for your child!
Making cardboard toys

Cardboard kitchen for girls

4. Making a Handbag

How to make:

  • First, cut the cardboard box into 4 parts and divide them equally in a 2:2 ratio.
  • Use a pencil to draw on the cardboard surface to create a frame for the handbag, then use the prepared tape to fix the points and corners together so that the bag is as secure as possible.
  • Finally, decorate the handbag with colored paper. Parents can add decorative details such as bows, beads, etc. to make the product look more attractive.
Making cardboard toys

Pretty cardboard handbag

5. Unique Guitar

How to make:

  • Just like other cardboard toys, to make a guitar, parents first need to use a pencil to draw the outline of the product.
  • Then use glue to fix the corners so that the product parts are securely connected.
  • Use the remaining cardboard to cut out the strings and glue them on with glue to make the product look as lively as possible.

Not only can you make a guitar, but you can also make some other cardboard toys for boys, such as robots, cars, etc., to make them more excited.

How to make cardboard toys

A pretty cardboard guitar

6. Pretty Hat

How to make:

  • To make a cardboard hat, parents need to use a compass to draw a circle with a diameter of about 25cm and a smaller circle of about 20cm.
  • Use a utility knife and cut precisely along the drawn lines. Then use a pencil to draw the brim of the hat and cut along that line with scissors.
  • When all the parts are ready, use a glue gun and hot glue to fix the corners and points as securely as possible, then use the prepared fabric and colored paper to decorate the outside of the hat.
Making cardboard toys

Pretty cardboard hat

7. Making a Pencil Holder

How to make:

  • First, use a pencil to draw a shape with dimensions of 25cm x 35cm and cut along that line.
  • Then use scissors to cut out 2 arrow shapes of equal size and insert them into the cut slits to create dividers for the pencil holder.
  • Next, to make the base of the pencil holder, parents use a compass to create a large circle of about 11cm and cut precisely along the circle.
  • Apply hot glue around the cardboard piece and fix it around a piece of colored paper with a height of about 15cm. Smooth and hold until the glue is completely dry.
  • Finally, parents make the top of the pencil holder by cutting a large circle of paper about 20cm, then apply glue to the edge and form a cone shape.
  • Insert the dividers and the body one by one, then apply glue to fix them before putting on the folded cone top. Now you have an interesting toy for your child to explore!
Making cardboard toys

Different versions of pencil holders made from cardboard

8. Fun Basketball Toy

How to make:

  • First, cut the cardboard into shapes and then assemble them to create a frame for the basketball toy.
  • Then, use a marker to draw curved lines on the surface of the ball to make the product look as realistic as possible. Next, use popsicle sticks, bottle caps, and belt straps to create a lever system.
  • Place the ball tray at the end of the product and use an additional piece of cardboard about 30cm long to act as a ball support.
  • Fix the ball basket to the basketball support using glue and cut out the bottom so the ball can fall down.
  • Finally, decorate the product with colored paper and stickers to make it look more attractive.
Is it difficult to make cardboard toys?

Is it difficult to make cardboard toys?

9. Mini Foosball Table

How to make:

  • First, cut the prepared cardboard into a rectangle with dimensions of 24cm x 40cm. At the 24cm edge, cut a large circle of about 1.75cm.
  • Then cut out 4 more pieces of cardboard and 2 circles larger than 1.75cm and glue the cut circles to the bottom of the circular holes using glue.
  • To make the table frame, take two pieces of hard cardboard and cut them into semi-circles with a radius of about 5-7cm to make the support frame. Fix the two support frames on another piece of cardboard using glue and then glue the game table to the support frame.
  • The last step, parents need to make players and a soccer ball. To do this, use two bottle caps and stick pictures of people on them, using magnets glued to the bottom as the soccer ball.
  • Use a plastic object that can be held in the hand and add a magnet directly to form the shape of a player.

Parents can refer to the detailed steps for making a foosball table in the following video:

10. Cardboard House

How to make:

  • With 3 cardboard boxes, two boxes will be used to make the two upper floors, and the remaining box will be cut into a triangle shape to make the roof for the house.
  • Fix the corners and points with glue and a glue gun according to the frame of a house securely.
  • Use paint to decorate the outside to make the house look more lively.
Making cardboard toys

Cardboard houses come in different shapes and sizes

11. Hockey Table

How to make:

  • First, cut the cardboard to a size of 40cm x 24cm, then cut 4 more pieces of cardboard with a height of about 3cm to make the surrounding barriers and 1 rectangular piece of cardboard with dimensions of 24cm x 3cm.
  • With the 24cm x 3cm cardboard piece, parents cut it in half and then attach the newly cut rectangle to the playing table.
  • Use a compass to measure and cut a circle with a radius of about 1.75cm. Combining the 2 circular pieces will create the hockey puck.
  • Use a piece of paper to wrap these balls and use a rubber band to control them.
  • Cut a hole in the previously cut horizontal bar to thread the rubber band through.
  • Finally, color and finish the product to make it look as eye-catching as possible.
Instructions on how to make cardboard toys

Cardboard Hockey Table

Some notes when making cardboard toys for children

With its special material, parents should note the following points when making cardboard toys for children:

  • Clean the cardboard thoroughly before making toys for children using a dry paper towel, especially cardboard that has been stored for a long time, to prevent viruses and bacteria from entering the child’s delicate body upon contact.
  • Absolutely avoid using cardboard materials that have contained chemicals, dyes, or have become moldy or wet to make toys for children because it can adversely affect their health.
  • Making cardboard toys involves many steps and requires the support of various materials and tools such as glue, knives, scissors, compasses, etc. Parents need to keep these items out of reach of children.
Notes when making cardboard toys

Pack of 90 Tempo unscented 4-ply tissues

A few words from AVAKids

Making cardboard toys is really not as difficult as parents might think. Start making meaningful and unique toys for your children, parents! We hope the above information is helpful for parents in the process of caring for and raising their children.

In addition to making toys from cardboard, parents should also let their children play with other types of toys such as Antona toys… so that children feel more excited!