Ring Toss Games for Kids (Easy DIY Setups)

Ring toss is one of those games that looks like a store-bought set but takes five minutes and a few paper plates to make at home. It keeps toddlers and preschoolers busy, gets them moving, and quietly builds the kind of aim and coordination they’ll use for years. Here’s how to set it up and how to keep it interesting once they’ve got the hang of it.

The Five-Minute DIY Setup

You need two things: rings and a post. For the rings, cut the centers out of two to four paper plates, leaving a ring shape. Older toddlers can help tear out the middles. For the post, you have a few options depending on what’s handy:

• A paper towel roll taped upright onto a paper plate base
• A water bottle standing on the floor (a little water inside keeps it steady)
• A stick or wooden spoon pushed into a ball of play dough

Stand your child a few feet from the post, show them one toss, and let them go. Celebrate the near-misses as much as the ringers, that’s what keeps frustration low and the game going.

Full ring toss guide →

Make It Easier or Harder

The same setup works for a wobbly two-year-old and a competitive five-year-old, you just change the distance and the challenge.

• For younger toddlers: stand right next to the post and drop the rings on, rather than throwing. Success first, distance later.
• To add challenge: step back after each ringer, set up a second post to aim at, or give each post a point value (1, 2, 3) and keep a running total.
• For quieter or softer play: use pool noodle slices or ribbon loops instead of paper plates.
• To add a craft step: let them decorate the rings with markers before playing.

5 More Throwing and Aiming Games

Once ring toss has run its course for the day, these games use the same coordination skills, so they pair well in a single play session or an indoor “sports day.”

Why These Games Are Worth the Setup

Throwing and aiming games look simple, but they’re doing real work. Releasing a ring or a ball at the right moment is the same controlled-release motion children need for throwing, catching, and eventually holding a pencil with the right pressure. Aiming builds spatial awareness, and the clear hit-or-miss feedback keeps them practicing without you having to push.

They’re also some of the few coordination activities that get kids standing and moving, so they work well for active children. For more in the same vein, browse game ideas for toddlers, active play, or gross motor activities.