Can I use different materials for the DIY Tiny City Board?

Absolutely! The materials listed are just suggestions. You can get creative and use any recyclable items you have at home. For example, you can use cereal boxes for the board or buttons instead of plastic caps. The key is to use what you have and make it a fun project for you and your child.

Is this DIY toy suitable for all age groups?

While this DIY Tiny City Board is primarily designed for toddlers to help develop their fine motor skills, older kids can also enjoy the project, especially if they help with the construction. For very young children, adult supervision is recommended due to the use of scissors and glue.

How long does it take to complete this DIY toy project?

The time required can vary depending on how detailed you want to get. On average, it should take about 1-2 hours to complete the project, including the time to gather materials, cut out shapes, and assemble the board. However, you can break it up into smaller sessions if needed, especially when working with younger children.

DIY Toys For Toddlers: Boost Your Child’s Fine Motor Skills Through Play

Are you looking for creative DIY toys for toddlers to improve your hand-eye coordination, imagination, and fine motor skills using recycled materials? Look no further!

This Tiny City Board is a fun and engaging way to help your child develop these essential skills while sparking their creativity.

Plus, it’s a fantastic project for older kids to enjoy with family and friends.

How DIY Toys for Toddlers Enhance Fine Motor Skills

This DIY toy—a Tiny City Board—is more than just a plaything; it’s a tool for learning and development. Here’s how it can help your child:

Hand-Eye Coordination: Your child will practice fitting the bottle caps through the car wheels, which improves hand-eye coordination.
Fine Motor Skills: Opening and closing the plastic caps strengthens fine motor skills, which are crucial for tasks like writing and buttoning clothes.
Imaginative Play: Recreating a cityscape encourages storytelling and imaginative play, providing endless entertainment.

📌 Related article: Best educational toys for 2 year olds {affordable}

Materials Needed for the DIY Toys for toddlers

A cardboard piece painted with a brown background, two cars (one orange, one green), a sun, clouds, a tree, and a road, placed on a carpeted floor next to a potted plant, a notebook with a pen, and a cup of coffee.

Before you begin, gather the following materials:

Large board – we recycled an old box
Colored cardboard paper – preferably thick
Road washi tape
Caps from plastic bottles – recycled from milk bottles
Paint – optional, for creating traffic lights. Alternatively, you could use various colored bottle caps

Tools:

Scissors
Pencil
Hot glue gun (or any stable glue)
Glue stick

📌 Related article: Best Resources for learning the Alphabet for Toddlers

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Create Your DIY Toy—Tiny City Board

Let’s dive into the project! This straightforward DIY toy for toddlers is perfect for enhancing your child’s fine motor skills.

1. Gather Materials & Supplies

Plastic Caps: We’re using recycled caps from plastic bottles. For this project, you’ll need both the cap and the neck of the bottle. Use a sharp knife to cut them out. The neck of the bottle will be glued onto the cardboard, while the caps will serve as wheels for the cars.

Plastic water bottle with a knife illustration, indicating to cut the bottle just below the cap with a dotted line and "cut here" text.

2. Create Cars and Cityscape Features

Draw cars and other features (like clouds, trees, and the sun) on the colored cardboard.
Outline the cars and use the caps to measure where the holes for the wheels should be.
Pro Tip: To cut out precise holes for the wheels, use small nail scissors with a pointed tip.

📌 Related article: 10 Must-Have Educational Toys for Toddlers

3. Assemble the Cardboard

Lay down the roads using the washi tape.
Position the cars on the road to determine where to glue the bottlenecks. Secure them with the hot glue gun.
Attach the cars without gluing them, and then add the caps.
Finally, glue the other cityscape elements using a glue stick.

I initially planned to paint the caps to create traffic lights, but I wasn’t happy with the result, so I left them plain. Your child can still enjoy endless hours of play by interchanging the cars.

Once I have enough caps, I’ll add the traffic lights using the same method.

📌 Related article: Grab Your FREE Toddler & Preschooler Activity Sheets

FAQ about the DIY Toys for Toddlers

Two toy car cutouts, one orange and one green, are placed on a rectangular board designed as a road, placed on a beige carpet.

Can I use different materials for the DIY Tiny City Board?

Absolutely! The materials listed are just suggestions. You can get creative and use any recyclable items you have at home. For example, you can use cereal boxes for the board or buttons instead of plastic caps. The key is to use what you have and make it a fun project for you and your child.
Is this DIY toy suitable for all age groups?

While this DIY Tiny City Board is primarily designed for toddlers to help develop their fine motor skills, older kids can also enjoy the project, especially if they help with the construction. For very young children, adult supervision is recommended due to the use of scissors and glue.
How long does it take to complete this DIY toy project?

The time required can vary depending on how detailed you want to get. On average, it should take about 1-2 hours to complete the project, including the time to gather materials, cut out shapes, and assemble the board. However, you can break it up into smaller sessions if needed, especially when working with younger children.

Conclusion

Two images of a simple children's craft depicting cars on a road, made from colored paper and bottle caps on brown cardboard. The left image shows an incomplete version, and the right image showcases the completed scene, making perfect diy toys for toddlers.

And there you have it—a quick and fun DIY toy that your little one will love! Of course, you can customize the cityscape to fit your child’s interests. If you try this project, I’d love to hear your thoughts and see your creations.

Feel free to share your photos on social media using the hashtag #kingascorner on Instagram, so I can see your amazing work!

Want more ideas delivered straight to your inbox? Join my community today and never miss out on fresh, fun content that will make parenting even more rewarding.

Happy playing,

Xx Kinga