Ride That Camel - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

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Ride That Camel

Build a small rocking camel toy from cardboard that rocks when pushed using tape, straws, and glue while exploring balance and motion.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to Ride That Camel

What you need

Cardboard, scissors, pencil, ruler, tape, glue, straws, colouring materials, adult supervision required

Step 1

Clear a flat workspace and lay out all the materials so you can reach them easily.

Step 2

Draw a simple side-view camel shape on the cardboard using the pencil and ruler.

Step 3

Draw two identical curved rocker shapes on the cardboard that are a little longer than the camel’s base.

Step 4

Cut out the camel shape and the two rocker shapes from the cardboard.

Step 5

Cut three straw pieces: two short pieces about the width of the camel and one longer piece for a handle.

Step 6

Tape one short straw piece along the top inner curve of each rocker so the straw runs where the camel will touch.

Step 7

Place the camel on the two rockers to check how it balances and mark where the short straw pieces meet the camel underside.

Step 8

Put glue on the taped straw pieces on the rockers and press the camel onto them aligning your marks; hold until the glue sets.

Step 9

Tape along the edges where the camel meets each rocker to reinforce the joints.

Step 10

Tape or glue the long straw to the camel’s back to make a little push handle.

Step 11

Decorate your camel with colouring materials to make it look fun and unique.

Step 12

Gently place your camel on a flat surface and give the straw handle a light push to test its rocking motion.

Step 13

Share a photo or video of your finished rocking camel on DIY.org.

Help!?

What can I use instead of cardboard or plastic straws if I can't find them?

Substitute thin foam-board, corrugated cereal-box cardboard, or a cereal-box doubled over for the camel and rockers, and use rolled-up paper tubes, wooden coffee stirrers, or slim dowels in place of the short straw pieces and long straw handle.

Why won't my camel rock smoothly or stay balanced after I tape and glue it to the rockers?

If it wobbles or sticks, check that the two rocker curves are identical length and curvature, reposition the taped short straw pieces so they line up with the mark made when you placed the camel in step 6, trim any rough cardboard edges, and reinforce the glued joints in step 7 with extra tape as described in step 8.

How do I adapt the steps for different ages so it's safe and fun?

For preschoolers have an adult do the cutting in steps 3–4 while the child tapes the short straw pieces in step 5 and decorates in step 10, for school-aged kids let them use safety scissors and do all steps with supervision, and for older kids challenge them to design more complex rocker curves and stronger glued joints in step 7 to carry small figures.

How can we personalize or make the camel project more challenging after finishing the basic rocker?

Decorate the camel in step 10 with painted patterns, glue on a fabric saddle or small pom-poms, add a weighted base under the camel to change the rocking motion from step 11, or attach tiny figures to test balance and then share the result on DIY.org as suggested in step 12.

Watch videos on how to Ride That Camel

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Facts about toy making and simple machines for kids

🐫 Camels come in two main kinds: dromedaries with one hump and Bactrian camels with two humps.

🪀 Rocking toys have been enjoyed for centuries — rocking horses were popular in Europe as early as the 1600s.

⚖️ The spot where your cardboard camel balances is called its center of mass — move it and the rocking changes!

📐 The curve of the rocker controls motion: a deeper curve makes quicker rocking, a shallower curve makes it gentler.

♻️ Corrugated cardboard is lightweight, surprisingly strong when folded, and easy to recycle or reuse for crafts.

How do I build a rocking cardboard camel toy that rocks when pushed?

Start by drawing a camel silhouette and two curved rocker runners on cardboard; cut them out (adult help for knives). Cut a rectangular body piece and two short straw sections to act as pivot sleeves. Glue the camel body to the top of the rectangular piece, slide straws horizontally through the body where the runners will sit, then attach and glue the curved runners around the straws so the camel can pivot and rock. Test balance and shift the body or add small weights to improve rocking.

What materials do I need to make the Ride That Camel cardboard rocker?

You will need sturdy cardboard (from a box), pencil and ruler, scissors and/or craft knife (adult use), white glue or hot glue (adult use), clear tape, several sturdy drinking straws, markers or paint for decoration, and scrap cardboard for runners and supports. Optional: small washers or clay for adjustable weights, sandpaper to smooth edges, and a cutting mat to protect surfaces while cutting.

What ages is the Ride That Camel cardboard rocking toy suitable for?

This hands-on craft suits children about 6–12 years old who can use scissors and follow multi-step instructions with minimal help. Younger children (3–5) can join if an adult pre-cuts pieces and supervises assembly and gluing; toddlers should only play with the finished toy after checking for small parts. Supervision is recommended whenever craft knives, hot glue, or fastening are involved.

What are the benefits, safety tips, and fun variations for the Ride That Camel activity?

Building the rocker teaches balance, cause-and-effect, fine motor skills, and problem solving. Safety tips: adult supervision for cutting and hot glue, use child-safe scissors, check that straws and small parts are secure, and avoid small detachable pieces for under-threes. Variations: make different animals, change runner curvature for faster or slower rocking, add weights to shift the center of gravity, or motorize it with a small vibration motor for STEM exploration.

Ready to create?