From the page: Plastic containers full of possibility
Idea 10
Piggy bank and play train
Improvised toys are an old tradition — entire generations grew up with tins, boxes and containers before store shelves filled with ready-made plastic toys. Containers with screw-on lids are perfect for small children because they exercise the coordination of fitting and twisting, and once painted they become anything: a train, a car, a piggy bank, an aquarium.
What you need
- Containers with lids, preferably screw-on ones
- Gouache or acrylic paints
- Scissors, glue, buttons and assorted small lids
- Cardstock for details
How to make it
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1
Let the child paint the outside of the containers with gouache — on transparent containers, paint the inside so the shine lasts longer.
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2
For the train: lay the containers on their sides, glue little lid wheels onto each one and pull with a string tied to the first.
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3
For the piggy bank: cut a thin slot in the lid with scissors (an adult does this part) that coins can fit through.
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4
For the stacking game with babies: gather pairs of containers and lids of different sizes and let the child twist and untwist them freely.
Finishing touches
Always use large lids in toys for small children and supervise use — small loose parts are a choking hazard.
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