3 Places to Make Your Own Toys in NYC

If you want to make your kid's birthday a little extra special, don't just buy them a cool toy, let them make it themselves. Give the gift of creativity, self confidence and not to mention, an amazing memory this year by providing them with the special experience of building their own toy. Kids can pretend to be mad scientists by building a one-of-a-kind walking, talking robot. Or they can channel their inner Jim Henson and make their very own Muppet. Little kids can stitch up the stuffed animal friend of their dreams or visit a café where arts and crafts are on the menu. 

Experiences like this don’t come cheap, but will definitely trump any gift from the store. This is a great gift idea for grandparents who love to spoil, but don't know what to get. They can share the time together as well as see their loved one enjoying the toy. And for an extra special birthday party celebration, all these places are birthday party venues, too.

Make your own robot:

Toys R Us Times Square (1514 Broadway at 44^th Street)
Toys R Us Times Square is home to the Robot Galaxy, where kids can experience the thrill of creating their own robot from scratch. They simply choose a robot body then pick from an amazing assortment of limbs that do all sorts of different roboty things. There are over 1,000 combinations that kids can put together with these appendages – so no two are alike. Kids will love activating their robot in the super sonic fuel cell– which lights up and smokes. Then at home, kids hook their robots up to the computer enabling them to walk and say their creator’s name. Plus kids can visit the virtual robot galaxy online and play games with other robots or download gizmos to enhance their own.

Drop-in Robot Making:
Average robot costs $40-$50
Registration not required

Robot Galaxy Birthday Party:
One hour and 30 minute party in private party room overlooking the indoor ferris wheel.
Packages start at $34.95 per child for the first ten children. Discounts apply after ten guests.
Food not included but catering packages available.
Each guest makes a robot.

Make a Muppet:

FAO Schwarz, 767 Fifth Avenue (At 59^th Street)
If your kids can’t get enough Kermit, they will love this special customizable Muppet experience. You can’t actually recreate Miss Piggy or Monster here, but you can make your very own, unique “whatnot”– those nameless Muppet extras seen in the background of the Muppet movies. There are a ton of options to choose from and you get to test them out before you commit. Using the colorforms-style design kit kids create the Muppet of their dreams by picking one of the three bodies, playing with a lot of different Muppety hairstyles, noses, eyes and outfits. Once they are happy with their choices in the design kit simply fill in the order sheet and the Muppet makers make your whatnot right in front of your eyes. A once in a lifetime experience.

Drop in Whatnot making:
All Whatnots cost $99
No registration required
Whatnot Birthday Party:
1 hour in a private party room, with paper goods, party games and more starts at $750 for 20 kids. Many a la carte items can be added and other packages available.
Whatnot making can be added for an additional $99 per Whatnot

Make a lovey:
Build a Bear Workshop, 565 Fifth Avenue (At 46^th Street)
Little kids can make their own best friend at the biggest Build A Bear Workshop in the world. They first pick from a seemingly impossible amount of unstuffed animals: pets and farm animals like dogs, cows and pigs to wild animals like tigers and gorillas or they can choose a sting ray or even a Portuguese water dog. They get to bring their animal to life by choosing a heart (and the option to have it beat or not) to put inside the body. Then it gets stuffed and sewn in front of their eyes. As they walk around the massive store they can choose other accessories to customize their new friend. There are hundreds of themed outfits to choose from – sports teams, Jedi warriors, scouts, jobs and more. Kids will love the experience of bringing the animal to the grooming station and dressing it.

Drop in Bear Making:
Average cost $30-$50
No registration required
Build a Bear Workshop NYC Party:
One and a half hour parties start at $10 per child with many add-ons available (Build a dinosaur parties starts at $15)
Private Party Room with cake and juice available for $400
Food not included.
Each guest will bring home an animal.

Create something beautiful, together:

Moomah Cafe (161 Hudson Street)
As of May, 2012, Moomah is only open to the public as a cafe. So sadly no more crafts.
A visit to Moomah Café, is just a charming experience for parents and children. Moomah is a café cum store cum arts studio tied up with a lovely organic cotton ribbon. In addition to a well thought out, organic, café menu, and a nicely edited shop, they offer parents a chance to create with their children. Choose from an assortment of well designed, sophisticated, yet simple, projects from the display wall and take it to the “D.I.T” (do it together) table to make it. Projects change regularly and usually take about 30 minutes to complete. And, if it is open, children can visit the exhibit, Funky Forest, a virtual reality-esque room, where they can learn how, in-a-state-of-the-art environment, their actions can affect nature. They also offer regularly scheduled classes.

Drop in Do it Together projects:
Projects range in price from $15 to $25
No reservations required, Do it Together table is open from 9 am to 5 pm
Birthday Parties at Moomah:
Creatively packaged all inclusive birthday parties for 15 children available for $2,000 to $3,000.
Each child makes a craft plus much more.

For more gift and party ideas check out our NYC Shopping Local Gift Guide, or our Party Guide and for holiday fun see our Holiday Guide.