Toys

Parachutes are easy to make for action figures or other toys. Use these parachutes to have races with friends or for a physics project with kids. Try different weights of toys and different size...

Tying a yo-yo string is the first step to using a yo-yo correctly. Using a simple loop is one of the first mistakes that many fledling yo-yo artists make. Instead, using a slip knot will keep the...

The diabolo is an hourglass-shaped object juggled on a string between two sticks. It was invented in the early 1900s as an adaption of the Chinese yo-yo. Today, diabolos show up in the hands of...

Most traditional Japanese dolls are made of wood or clay, but one of the few exceptions are teru teru bozu. They're very simple dolls made from tissue paper or cloth and hung outdoors to wish for...

Making string yarn puppets can provide a creative outlet for children of all ages. This puppet improves upon the basic yarn doll-making technique and uses supplies that are probably readily...

You can easily make your own bow and arrow. All you need are some qualified sticks, a strong cord and a few tools. Gather your supplies from nature and the hardware store and you'll be ready for...

You can usually construct a mousetrap car with items that you already have around the house. Building a mousetrap car with children is a wonderful way to pass the time on a rainy day. Older...

Flying kites is a relaxing summer activity. To make it a little more fun, you can make your own kite. The supplies needed to make a kite are generally cheaper than buying one, and the satisfaction...

The story of the exact origin of string puppets has likely been lost to the cavalcade of history. A legend from India claims that the first puppeteer, Adi Nat, was born from the mouth of the...

Kids these days have no shortage of entertainment. But for the kids--and parents--who seek simplicity, a little creativity can go a long way in your backyard. A toy bow is a relatively easy craft...

Making five different pieces of spy equipment is easy. Invisible ink, a magnetic message retrieval system, backwards-looking glasses, a laser microphone and a can safe are easily made and added to...

A yo-yo is essentially a small set of wheels with an axle. It consists of a weighted outer shell spinning around a central axis to which a string is connected. More expensive and better quality...

Box kites are a popular kite constructed of paper or plastic attached to lightweight supports made of wood. Called box kites because of their shape and appearance in the sky, these kites are more...

A mouse trap car toy is perfect for a science experiment or even serves as a great activity for a rainy day. Mouse trap cars are self-powered, which means that they do not require any outside...

A great way to pass the time on a rainy day is to make your own dart gun. You can make a very basic gun from materials you probably have just lying around your home. This makes for a very...

Wham-O introduced Silly String to the world in 1972. The product is foam sprayed from an aerosol can that hardens upon contact with the air to become a plastic-like, slightly tacky, colored...

The dragon clapper is made out of wood and string and paint. Learn how to make a children's dragon clapper in this free crafts video.

Musical wooden toys are fun for children and relatively easy to make. Here you learn how to make a musical toy with a gentle sound for a young child.

Diving for submerged objects in the swimming pool is so much fun during the summer time! Here are two ways to make diving toys using plastic Easter eggs and a few other materials you have laying...

Tying the kite line to the underside of a kite is important for kite flying success. Make sure that you incorporate all four points of the kite into the tying so that the kite will be supported...

Making a can telephone is an old method of making a simple, modern toy. Not only are can telephones fun to make, they are fun to use. A can telephone can also teach children about physics using...

Making plastic bag kites is a great way to recycle those plastic bags you get at the grocery store. The bags are very lightweight, so they fly easily, and they are easy to make, especially if you...

Kites have long been a favorite pastime of children on a clear, windy day. While getting a kite up and flying can always be a bit of a challenge, different shapes and styles of construction can...

Picture a colorful diamond-shaped kite dancing in the breeze against a turquoise blue sky. Flying this maneuverable and efficiently designed model is fascinating and fun. Children will enjoy...

So many toys today light up, make sounds and operate with batteries. When you choose to make your own toys, you and your children can think back to an earlier time when people had to make almost...

The box kite has an interesting history. It was invented over a hundred years ago with the original purpose of trying to lift people up into the air. While the kite failed for this purpose, the...

Wooden toys are great for young children because they are durable and many can be made rather than bought. A wooden wagon is a toy sure to be treasured by little girls and little boys alike....

Visual stimulation is vital for brain development in infants, and mobiles are a great way to get those neurons firing. Making your own can be a fun experience for both you and baby, and lets you...

Silly String comes in cans from which long sticky strings are shot. These strings are colorful and relatively non-toxic. Silly string is used in the same manner as confetti--at children's parties...

Silly String has been a common component of children's parties and general celebrations for more than 30 years. Despite its marketing to children and the festive ways in which it is employed,...

In 2006, British and American troops discovered they could spray Silly String down the hall or under the door and see otherwise invisible tripwires connected to explosive devices. For the first...

Silly String has long been a mainstay of children's birthday parties and celebrations. Silly String comes in a can that is filled with liquid plastic that is under pressure. When the button is...

Silly String is a popular toy that was in invented in the 1970s and endured both fun and controversy. Whether it is used to prank someone, enhance a celebration or as protection, the inventors of...

A mousetrap car is a miniature vehicle made mostly of objects found around your house, and whose only source of power is a mousetrap. Mousetrap cars are a fun and creative way to help children...

Inside the can, Silly String is a liquid. An acrylic resin is one ingredient and it is responsible for the plastic structure of a strand of Silly String once it is sprayed. The second ingredient...

Here's some old-fashioned fun. Make this toy and children can have hours of fun outside with it. It gets them moving. Here's how to make this easy toy from crepe paper, a ball and string.

OZARK kids had to entertain themselves how- ever they could; back in the early days. Many things were made from things that were on hand. One of these was the BUTTON & STRING WHIRLIGIG. Here's...

Many young boys and girls envision doing fun and exciting things such as flying, sailing and parachuting. While they may not be able to actually strap on a parachute, ride an airplane into the...

Children see the pleasure adults get from relaxing in a hammock. Naturally they want to extend this good feeling to their personified toys. Show your child how to make a toy hammock using simple...

Learn how to take care of and improve your yo yo in this free video clip about stringing a yoyos.

Learn how to use your YoYo string for looping tricks with expert tips on YoYo's and looping tricks in this free video series.

Learn how to do an off string brain twister mount YoYo trick with expert tips on YoYo's in this free video clip.

Learn how to do an off string regeneration YoYo trick with expert tips on YoYo's in this free video clip.

Learn how to do an off string whip catch YoYo trick with expert tips on YoYo's in this free video clip.

Learn how to do an off string orbit the leg YoYo trick with expert tips on YoYo's in this free video clip.

Learn how to do an off string volcano YoYo trick with expert tips on YoYo's in this free video clip.

Learn how to do an off string behind the back YoYo trick with expert tips on YoYo's in this free video clip.

Learn how to do an off string snap start YoYo trick with expert tips on YoYo's in this free video clip.

Learn how to do an off string brain twister YoYo trick with expert tips on YoYo's in this free video clip.

Learn how to do an off string suicide YoYo trick with expert tips on YoYo's in this free video clip.