Have fun creating toys for children with these 8 recycling projects
Creative recycling is a great way to reduce waste or give an object a new function which is completely different from the one it was originally intended for (repurposing). Among the many creative recycling projects that can be done together with children, is making DIY toys for them to play with.
Not only will this be fun, but it will teach your children the values of sustainability and eco-sensitivity from an early age.
Below, we suggest 8 interesting recycling projects for making toys for kids:
1. DIY toy trucks
Tutorial via kidmademodern.com
Jars, drink containers, bottles, glasses and even cardboard boxes and toilet paper rolls can easily be transformed into colorful DIY toy trucks. You just need to be imaginative creating lively and colorful means of transport!
2. Garage for toy cars
Tutorial via frugalfun4boys.com
And if your kids have lots of toy cars, you can have fun with them making a wonderful multi-storey garage by recycling toilet rolls, boxes and empty bottles.
3. Tin can telephone
Tutorial via Brilliant Little Ideas/YouTube
Raise your hand if you played with tin can telephones as a child; very easy to make, this toy is guaranteed to be fun for the kids. Making a telephone set is very simple: get two tin cans (paper or plastic cups are also fine) and some string; paint the cans however you want and join the cans together using thread (threaded through a hole punched in the bottom of each can). Allow the thread to be as long as you want. When pulled taunt, whatever is said into can A will be heard in can B.
4. Ninja bowling
For children who love sports, a homemade bowling set made from empty plastic bottles is a must! Choose your favorite theme, perhaps taking inspiration from your children's favorite cartoons or comics. For the bowling ball, you can recycle a small rubber ball or a ping pong ball.
5. Stone dominoes
Tutorial via sparklestories.com
Dominoes are loved by all kids. And you can make a domino set yourself by collecting stones while on your nature walks and painting them with acrylics. Now, all you have to do is wait for the paint to dry to start playing with your new dominoes set!
6. Tissue box guitar
Tutorial via Mrs. Doty/YouTube
Tomorrow's musicians will be able to make their first musical instrument - a guitar - by recycling an empty tissue box, a roll of tinfoil and some rubber bands. Paint and decorate the body of the guitar (the tissue box) and glue on a neck (carboard tube). Then, use elastic bands for the strings. Are you ready for a concert now?
7. Finger puppets
Tutorial via recycledcrafts.craftgossip.com
Finger puppets can keep children busy for hours; there are many ways in which they can be made at home using all sorts of materials and decorations. Have fun drawing on amusing faces and decorate them with hair made of wool or cotton threads and other scrap materials.
8. Lava lamp
Tutorial via Creative SL/YouTube
Finally, we suggest an activity that is more like a scientific experiment but which will leave your children speechless with amazement: a lava lamp. All you need is a glass jar, vegetable oil, baking soda, food coloring and vinegar to create a wonderful and colorful lava lamp. Place your jar over a LED light to illuminate the insides, making it look even more spectacular.
Which of these projects will you try out with your children?
