Let's make a washing machine out of paper

All children are interested in household appliances, and washing machines are no exception. Often, daughters and sons become obsessed with the machine, forcing parents to either supervise their play with the "grown-up" appliance or find a replacement. In the latter case, we're talking about a kid-sized version of the washing machine. While you can buy toy appliances, it's cheaper to make your own washing machine out of paper or cardboard. We'll cover what you'll need and how to assemble it in detail.

A simple toy out of a box

The simplest version of a paper washing machine is a duplicate made from a cardboard box. To make this craft you will need any empty packaging of a suitable size, scissors, a utility knife, glue, a marker, and plastic wrap. The first one is easy to find at any grocery store, and the latter ones are always available at home. The toy takes about 30-40 minutes to make.

You can make a toy washing machine from an empty cardboard box in 30 minutes!

The washing machine toy is made according to the following instructions:

• cover the box with paper or paint it (if you don’t like the original color);
• draw the front of the machine with a simple pencil;
• mark the location for the future hatch (it is better to attach plates of suitable sizes to get perfect circles);
• depict the instrument panel (duplicate buttons, switches, icons, powder receptacle);
• outline the contours with a bright marker;
• Use a knife to cut out a smaller circle of the “hatch”, acting as carefully as possible;
• cut a large circle, leaving a “loop” in the middle on the left – 4-5 cm (this is how the door will open and close);
• On polyethylene or a stationery file, trace the smaller cut-out circle, then add 1.5 cm to the diameter and cut out the circle (this will be the hatch glass);
• glue the "glass" to the hatch from the inside.

That's it! The toy washing machine is ready. It has plenty of functionality for kids to enjoy: they can open the door, load laundry into the "drum," and press the buttons. This way, kids can safely "wash" while pretending to be Mom's helper.

Toy with a drum and powder tray

For older and more demanding children, there's a more complex version of the toy washing machine—one with a pull-out tray, rotating programmer, and drum. It will require more time and materials to build, but the model will be almost identical to the real thing. First, let's gather the necessary supplies:

• carton;
• wide plastic bottle;
• empty baby juice pack;
• plastic container lid;
• two deep disposable plates;
• wrapping paper or plain white paper.

The dashboard of a toy car should resemble an adult dashboard.

You'll also need scissors, PVA glue, markers, tape, and old rags or bags. Got everything ready? Then let's get started making a doll washing machine.

1. We cut off the neck of the bottle so that the remaining part fits into the prepared box.
2. We wrap the bottle with foil inside and out.
3. We cut a hole in the box for the programmer and insert the cut off neck of a bottle into it (we close the lid from the outside with a drop of glue - it will hold and rotate).
4. We attach a juice box to the box and cut a hole for the dispenser.
5. We cut out the bottoms of the plates.
6. Between the plates we fix a plastic cover cut according to the template - this is the hatch door.
7. We make a hole in the box for the drum and a hatch.
8. We insert the drum bottle and secure it with rags, bags and tape.
9. We make two holes on the “hatch” and fix them to the body with wire.
10. On the other side of the plates we make a lock from a keychain ring.
11. We cover the product with paper (it is better to use self-adhesive wallpaper or cover the box with thick paint).
12. We transform a juice box into a powder dispenser (cut off the top, glue the outer sides, make a recess for the handle).
13. We fix the resulting powder receptacle in the box (be sure to glue larger pieces of cardboard on both sides so that the tray does not come out of the machine completely).
14. We draw the control panel of the washing machine (power button, timer, several modes and other keys).

The result is an almost complete duplicate of an adult washing machine. The child will be able to repeat the entire washing process: adding laundry, adding powder, and turning the program selector. What's important is that thanks to the wire fastenings on the door, a separate powder receptacle, and a button-lid, this toy will last a long time.

Play "Big Wash" with your child

It won't be difficult for a child to play with a new washing machine—constant adult supervision will help them understand the concept of "washing." However, parents can add variety and incorporate developmental elements into the activity. For example, it's recommended to give the child the following tasks during play:

• Sort doll laundry by color before loading it into the machine;
• start the “wash”, measuring the time on the clock;
• load the machine with both hands;
• “wash” the washing machine with a dry cloth;
• hang the clothes on a drying rack, securing them with clothespins.

By playing laundry, your child will learn about sorting clothes, colors, and timing, as well as how to wait and care for appliances!

A cardboard washing machine can be a fun and useful toy, but the key is to help your child master its functionality. Even a fake washing machine can help develop self-care skills, help them sort clothes, remember colors and fabric types, and learn to wait and measure time.

   

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