What if all the toys shops disappeared, what would you do? Earlier children used to
make their own toys with materials available around them.There are many things lying
around your house that can be used to make simple toys. So just switch off your television
and put on your thinking cap. Here are a few ideas for you!
Matchbox Rattle
Yo-Yo
Things you need:
A thin bamboo stick Two empty matchboxes A pen-knife Few
pebbles Get set go!
Things you
need:
Two circular pieces of thick cardboard (15cm in diamter) A
small pencil stub A piece of thread (50cm long)
1. Split the thin bamboo stick into with the help
of a pen-knife.
1. Make a hole in the centre of each disc.
2. Insert the two split ends into the depression
in each of the two matchboxes.
2. Fix the pencil between the two cardboard disc
as shown in the diagram. The distance between the discs should be around 2 cm.
3. Place a few tiny pebbles inside the
matchboxes.
3. Tie the thread to the pencil and wind it as shown in the diagram.
4. Shake the toy and you can hear the rattling
sound.
4. After tying the thread hold the free end of the thread
in one hand.
5. Let the reel go down. As soon as it reaches give it a slight jerk when it almost
reaches the end of the thread.
6. The reel winds and unwinds itself – and your new
toy is ready!
Source: Sudarshan Khanna 2000, Joy of Making Indian Toys, National
Book Trust, New Delhi, p 21, 86
So is your thinking cap still on?Think of a toy made
out waste material and Just write in to us at:
Gobar Times, Environment Education Unit, 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi
11006
Things you need:
Things you
need:
1. Split the thin bamboo stick into with the help
of a pen-knife.
1. Make a hole in the centre of each disc.
2. Insert the two split ends into the depression
in each of the two matchboxes.
2. Fix the pencil between the two cardboard disc
as shown in the diagram. The distance between the discs should be around 2 cm.
3. Place a few tiny pebbles inside the
matchboxes.
3. Tie the thread to the pencil and wind it as shown in the diagram.
4. Shake the toy and you can hear the rattling
sound.
