Easy DIY Fishing Game for Toddlers (Color Learning Activity)

We made this DIY fishing game for toddlers with a simple printable, and omg… he played for 45 minutes. I’ll show you exactly how we set it up + why it worked so well. And how we used it to learn colors.

PS.: I used those fish in other activities I’ll share soon. For one, my toddler used them to cook in his kitchen.

🎯 Materials for This DIY Fishing Game for Toddlers

• Free printable fish (I’ll give you mine 👇)
• Laminator (optional but worth it) + Pouches
• Paper clips
• String or yarn
• Stick (for a fishing rod). I used a chopstick
• Magnet or hook
• Container / sensory bin
• Colored bowls (for sorting)

👉 We used what we had at home.

Optional swaps:

• No laminator → use cardboard backing, or print on cardstock
• No magnet → bend paperclip into a hook
• Younger toddler → skip sorting bowls at first

🛠️ How to Make a DIY Fishing Game for Toddlers

1. Print and cut out your fish
2. Laminate them (optional, but it makes them last longer)
3. Cut them out again.
4. Attach paper clips to each fish
5. Make your fishing rod (stick + string + magnet/hook). I used tape to make the string hold.
6. Place the fish in a container
7. Add colored bowls if you want sorting

👉 Ok, prepping took at least 20 minutes. I used them a lot so worth it!😆

🎯 How to Play This Toddler Fishing Activity

At first… he just fished randomly and dropped them into whatever bowl 😅

BUT literally after like 1 minute… something clicked.
He started sorting them into the right color bowls all by himself?? I didn’t even tell him to do that.

He kept going. And going.

👉 He played for a good 45 minutes
(yes I gave him apple slices on the side lol that surely extended the play)

And the best part…
I sat next to him and did my emails + bills. Actual productive time. I was like… okay this we’ll do again 😂And he already asked to “fish” again.

Free Fish Printable

🧠 Benefits of This Fishing Game for Toddlers

This simple activity is low effort but SO powerful:

• Fine motor skills (grip + control with the rod)
• Hand-eye coordination
• Color recognition + sorting
• Focus & patience (45 min says enough 😏)
• Problem-solving (how to catch + where to place)

New vocab we used:

• fish
• catch
• hook
• colors (red, blue, green…)
• “in”, “out”, “more”, “again.”

📌 My Honest Thoughts (Real Mum Review)

Okay honest…

This was WAY better than I expected.

✔ kept him busy (longer than I expected)
✔ super low cost
✔ basically no mess

The only thing:

• He didn’t care about sorting at first… but figured it out himself
• Laminating is worth it (otherwise they get destroyed fast 😅)

👉 Would I do it again? 100% yes
👉 Next time I’d maybe add new colors or for an older toddler, numbers 👀)

📍 FAQ – DIY Fishing Game for Toddlers

What age is this fishing game good for?

Best for 1.5 +. Younger toddlers just enjoy catching, older ones can sort or count.

How do you make a DIY fishing game for toddlers?

You print fish, attach paper clips, and use a simple fishing rod with string + magnet or hook. Place everything in a container and let them catch fish.

What skills does a fishing game teach toddlers?

It builds fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, focus, and early learning like color sorting.

🔗 Related Activities for Toddlers

Since we made this as part of the ocean play week, you might also love:

Ocean Activities To Try With Your Toddler – our Masterpost

🐄 Farm Animals Activities Masterpost – All our farm crafts in one place.

🐞 Bug Crafts for Toddlers Masterpost – More simple insect ideas.

💬 Your Turn

If you try this activity I would LOVE to see it. We are on Fb, Insta and TikTok.
Tag me so I can cheer you on: #mommyscrafttime

Want more simple toddler activities that don’t require prep or perfection?

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