Sometimes the best toys are homemade

Toys are great. What kid doesn’t like toys? For that matter, what parent doesn’t like toys? There are big toys, little toys, round toys, and long toys. (Sounds like I’m writing a Dr. Seuss book here.) Most toys in my house come from one store or another, but then there are the special toys. These toys did not come from a store. These are the homemade toys that were made for my son or made with my son. There is the paper mask, or the cape from an old towel, or the rocket we made during Hurricane Sandy out of old boxes and tape, or the wooden pirate ship we painted together.

These are the toys that need tape right away when they break or rip, and the break and rip often. These are the toys that get played with over and over again. These are the toys that my son seems to cherish the most (even though he doesn’t say that, or even understand it). How do I know? A couple of years ago we needed a king costume. We didn’t want to spend any money because my son is finicky. We would by a costume and he would decide he wasn’t going to wear it. Of course, this time he wanted a costume. Thanks to some quick thinking I made a crown out of construction paper, tape, and a cape out of a towel. My son loved it and I liked making it. He even helped with the tape. He wore it proudly and the following year when I had a “real” crown for him he wanted the homemade one instead.

Here’s another example. My son wanted a cape. Instead of buying one I made one out of an old towel. He loved that one too. On Halloween that is what he wanted to wear out. I recently bought him a “real” cape. I’m sure he’s going to love it, but I can almost guarantee that the towel cape will not be going anywhere. That will probably still get the most play time.

This happens over and over again. Maybe kids know how much care and love goes into the homemade toys. Maybe they are proud that they helped make them. Maybe they are proud that their father helped make them. Whatever it is these toys are special.

Being an art teacher I might be an exception to the rule when it comes to making toys and costumes. I love being able to grab some stuff around the house and turn it into something. However, you don’t have to be an art teacher to make something with your child. You just need a little creativity. You aren’t making a masterpiece, just something that will be fun to play with for a little while. If it lasts more than an hour even better. What you are creating is a great memory for you and your child.

So next time your child wants a cape or a king’s crown make it yourself. You might be surprised at how special that toy becomes.

About Donny Yankellow

I am a full time art teacher and Dad. I am also a freelance illustrator and writer. I am the author and illustrator of the ebook "Looking for a Dinosaur," which is available in the iBookstore for iOS devices.

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  • http://twitter.com/OttawaRob Rob Lavoie

    Great post. The box from our new TV has been the kids’ favorite in a house filled with toys for weeks now.

  • http://twitter.com/jadorebmore Bawlmorean

    Yep, duck tape rules. On Halloween, I made a ‘UP’ house and my son was crazy about it. http://twitter.yfrog.com/odesroylj

  • mrbrackett

    No doubt! Love it. Recently upgraded an old stereo box (the big cube kind) into a Peek-a-boo Castle for my 2yo daughter. I slit one side of the cube and taped the bottom fold-in panels (like L’s) so they would hold the two corners and open up with the 3rd corner as the hinge. I then taped the upper fold-in panels to stand straight up, and cut a few shapes out of the top to make towers and trim, etc. Cut out some window-holes, and then a couple minutes with a marker to draw on some bricks, window ledges and flowers with vines, and voila! Princess Castle that could fold in like a box or open up to be a long castle wall to play behind. The whole thing took less than a half hour and she got HOURS of peek-a-boo playtime out of it. My wife thought I was nuts doing it (“just throw it out already!!”) but later conceded to my brilliance…if only just for that one day. ;)

  • Mike Bowers

    Great post; though I think the best toys are *always* the homemade ones. You can’t beat a toy that has sentimental meaning to it. Even kids feel the sentimentality, even if as you say, they don’t understand it.

  • tinyplanet

    Great post!

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