Tinker Tray: An Easy DIY Gift for Kids

I had so much fun putting a tinker tray gift together for my kiddo this week. When provided with a wide variety of materials, preschool age kids can really use their imaginations and create so many wonderful and different things. I love the open-ended opportunities that a tinker tray provides.

Tinker trays are great in a preschool, pre-k classroom creation station, but today I made a portable tinker tray….a simple DIY gift that is great for kids of all ages.

How to Make a Tinker Tray for a Gift

Tinker trays are fun to use in a classroom center, but this time I decided to put a portable tray together as a gift for my kiddo. I think it will be a great kit to pack when we go to visit grandpa and grandma. If you have a child on your Christmas list or need a birthday present for a special little one, this is a great DIY gift that is easy to put together. There are soooo many things that you can use to customize your tinker tray. Just, be sure to consider the child’s age as you choose materials to include in your tray.

I started with an inexpensive plastic container with adjustable compartments. I found this one in the sporting goods aisle (fishing supplies) of my local big box store and it was very inexpensive. Next, came the fun part! I LOVED hunting for fun materials to put in the little compartments.

You can include items from your craft stash, desk drawer, junk drawer, recycling bin, the craft store, the hardware store, or the dollar store. Customize it to fit your kid(s) and your budget.

Here are the supplies that I put in my tinker tray.

pipe cleaners
small dowel rods
plastic bendy straws
googly eyes
post-it notes (I am an addict, so I had to include them)
finger lights
embroidery floss
blank books
scissors
pen
glue
rubber bands
styrofoam balls
reinforcement stickers
paper clips
binder clips
balloons
plastic shot glasses
small rolls of colorful duck tape
toothpicks
small wood craft sticks
pom-poms

Can you believe that I fit all of that in there? I can’t wait to see what he creates…..and I’m already thinking about what I am going to put in my next tray.

Tinker Tray in the Classroom

Like I mentioned before, you could easily put together a tinker tray to use in your classroom. Again, you will need to use materials that are appropriate for the age and developmental level of your kids. Additional items that you could use/add include: