Make Your Own Ring Toss Craft and Activity for Kids

Do your kids have Olympic fever? Or maybe they’re just looking for a fun game to play around the house (hello, rainy day activity!), or one to play at a birthday party… either way, I’ve got you covered.

This ring toss game is an easy craft using recycled materials you can find around the house.

What you need to make a ring toss game for kids:

• Tall yogurt container
• Paper towel cardboard roll (A more firm cardboard roll like those found with aluminum foil or clear plastic wrap works well–you can also roll a section of newspaper into a tight roll.)
• Two or more lids from round yogurt containers (These will be your rings. So the more rings you want, the more lids you will need.)
• A sharp utility knife and an adult’s assistance
• Construction paper (optional)
• Markers, paint, or stickers (optional–However you want to decorate your ring toss game–or skip this step all together if you want to get playing!)

 How to make your own ring toss game and craft for kids:

Have an adult trim the top two inches off the yogurt container. (The “top” being the opening end of the container–it will become the “bottom” of the ring toss stand.) This will be the ring toss base and will need to be stable. Trimming the bottom off the container will help with that. Make sure you make it even so it sits well.

Also have an adult cut an ‘x’ shape into the bottom of the yogurt container.

Decorate the cardboard roll (or rolled up newspaper) to make it gorgeous. Some ideas include, painting it, colouring it with markers, sticking it with stickers, or covering it with construction paper, wrapping paper, or whatever else you have that looks interesting.

Slide the paper towel roll into the slits made in the bottom of the yogurt container. It should stay nicely on its own.

Have an adult carefully cut out the inside sections of the yogurt lids so they become a (closed) ring instead of a solid disk. (Cut out the middle of the lids.) These lids will be your rings.

It looks like you’re done!

Time to find some space and play ring toss!

Place the stand a few feet away and try to toss your rings onto the cardboard roll sticking up. Can you get it? If it is too easy, keeping backing up until it gets harder. Too hard? Move closer.

Can you toss the ring with your left hand? Right hand? Both hands? From behind your back? Without looking? From between your legs? Make it a challenge. Gotten good? Invite your friends over to play! They can be one country and you can be another–competing in the Olympics! Wahoo! Have fun, and enjoy!

What games do your kids like to play at home? What country are they cheering for in the Olympics?

P.S. This craft was built at our public library with help from our lovely librarian, Mary. Thanks, Mary!

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Looking for an easy way to share:

Easy craft and party game: ring toss! A fun how to for kids. http://t.co/SMTlgsWM #crafts #kids #play

— Jean Oram (@KidsPlay) August 2, 2012

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You can measure one rain storm, or leave it outside to measure several rainfalls and add it up to see how much you got over a week. Remember: The water will evaporate between rain storms so it is best to check after each rain fall and write it on a chart (if you want to be accurate and scientific), and dump the rain gauge so it will be empty again for the next rainfall. After it rains again, add that measurement to your chart and add it up! Hello math skills!

Note that you can also use this homemade rain gauge as a homemade snow gauge! Measure the snowfall, or even how much water the sprinklers left on the lawn.

Here’s how to make an easy homemade rain gauge for kids:

You will need a flat-bottomed, wide-mouthed jar, a ruler (a plastic ruler is best, but not essential), and tape. (And rain. )

Place the ruler in the jar so the end of the ruler (where “0” is) touches the bottom of the jar. Tape the ruler to the side of the jar so it stays in place. Your rain gauge is ready! Don’t you wonder why you haven’t made a ton of these?

Find a good spot outside for your rain gauge (in the open where the rain can fall into the gauge is best–i.e. not under a tree or sheltered by the house) and see how much rain falls.

So? How much rain did you get?
Have you made a rain gauge? How did your work out? What supplies did you use?

Enjoy!

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To make a basic tree you will need: A branch with many little twigs on it, clay or playdough, small plant pot, and decorations.

Place the clay or playdough in the bottom of the pot. Push the branch into the playdough or clay. Once it dries, it will hold it in place quite nicely. Then, add decorations to the tree.

For the decorations, you can either make your own at home or buy some from a craft or dollar store.

You can also decorate your pot using markers, glitter glue, stickers, or foam pieces.

As well, you can place the streamers from Easter baskets on top of the clay to decorate your pot.

Make this a family activity: Get together to make your own decorations for your Easter tree–more people means more ideas!

This activity promotes creativity and fine motor skills.

Make your mom a homemade card.

Homemade cards always feel more special than a card made in a store (although there is nothing wrong with those!).

You can make a homemade card with plain paper, construction paper, coloured paper or use special card making supplies. Simply fold your paper in a card shape, draw, paint, stamp or glue.

Create and enjoy!

This activity promotes creativity and self-expression through art.