DIY Peg Dolls – Colorful Open Ended Toys

diy peg dolls peg people multicultural colorful paint wooden dolls

DIY peg dolls are surprisingly easy to make! Not only are they a great open ended toy that sparks imaginations, but older kids can enjoy they creativity of designing their own set! Plus, gathering the basic supplies are simple and budget-friendly.

A Peg Doll You Can Customize!

Determining the colors and styles of the peg dolls is the best part! Doing this project yourself allows for the creative freedom to customize however you like! I wanted to make a set for my kiddos that was representative of multiculturalism. This is a great opportunity to discuss race and skin tones.

You can also experiment with color mixing to create the peg doll’s clothing. Mix blue and yellow to make green and discuss how primary colors make secondary colors! Children can create a peg doll to look just like them or make one that is unique and 100% different from everyone else’s. They can even create adults, kids, and babies too!

Skills: Arts and Crafts

Ages: 3 Years +

Prep Time: 30 Minutes

How to Make Your Own Peg Dolls

Making DIY peg dolls is so easy! The trickiest part is having the patience to let them dry before playing! In this video, you’ll see how simple it can be to paint the dolls so that they’re beautiful and a fun keepsake for later!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

How to Make Your Own Peg Dolls

Making DIY peg dolls is so easy! The trickiest part is having the patience to let them dry before playing! In this video, you’ll see how simple it can be to paint the dolls so that they’re beautiful and a fun keepsake for later!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

diy peg dolls peg people multicultural materials

Budget Friendly DIY Peg Dolls

Buying a multiculutral set of peg people can be pricey. These simple materials will keep the cost low and the creativity high! You don’t need an acrylic paint set with lots of colors to make a variety of different looking pegs dolls. Instead, experiment with color mixing! Combine the primary colors – blue, yellow, and red – to discover the secondary colors – orange, green, and purple. Believe it or not, this is an awesome way to integrate science during this arts and crafts project!

For more fun ways to explore color mixing, don’t miss our printable Hands on Color Mixing Activity Worksheets. This set is free and includes 5 unique activities that explores primary colors, secondary colors, shades, and tines.

Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Use an acrylic paint set to mix and blend the colors, creating skin tones and shades for the clothing and facial features.

Step 2

Paint the body first, allow to dry and then paint the face. Add 2 to 3 layers for more vibrancy.

Step 3

Add details for the eyes and hair to your preference!

Step 4

Cover with a matte finish sealant and repeat the above process for as many peg dolls as you want.

Step 1

Use an acrylic paint set to mix and blend the colors, creating skin tones and shades for the clothing and facial features.

Step 2

Paint the body first, allow to dry and then paint the face. Add 2 to 3 layers for more vibrancy.

Step 3

Add details for the eyes and hair to your preference!

Step 4

Cover with a matte finish sealant and repeat the above process for as many peg dolls as you want.

DIY Peg Dolls Has Educational Benefits

Peg Dolls are a wonderful open ended toy for all genders and ages. Open ended toys spark imaginations and are wonderful for imaginative play. Also known as pretend play, this is a fully immersive experience where children strengthen many skills including problem solving, language development, motor skills, and emotional development, to name a few!

The science behind colors is a big part of this activity as well. As mentioned above, making these wooden peg dolls is a great way to work on combining colors to create secondary colors, shades, and tints.

Last but not least, painting peg dolls is wonderful for strengthening fine motor skills. Using a paint brush will improve grip, hand-eye coordination, especially working on small details like facial expressions!

DIY Peg Dolls Has Educational Benefits

Peg Dolls are a wonderful open ended toy for all genders and ages. Open ended toys spark imaginations and are wonderful for imaginative play. Also known as pretend play, this is a fully immersive experience where children strengthen many skills including problem solving, language development, motor skills, and emotional development, to name a few!

The science behind colors is a big part of this activity as well. As mentioned above, making these wooden peg dolls is a great way to work on combining colors to create secondary colors, shades, and tints.

Last but not least, painting peg dolls is wonderful for strengthening fine motor skills. Using a paint brush will improve grip, hand-eye coordination, especially working on small details like facial expressions!