Easy Recycled Crafts for Kids – Fun and Eco-Friendly Projects
- Zissy
- Nov 11, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 13
In today’s world, where sustainability and eco-consciousness are more important than ever, it’s essential to teach kids about the value of recycling and reusing materials. One of the best ways to do this is through crafting! By using everyday household items that would typically end up in the trash, kids can create imaginative, fun, and functional crafts that not only help them develop their creativity but also foster a sense of responsibility toward the environment.
In this blog post, we’ll explore a variety of easy recycled crafts for kids that are both fun and educational. From using toilet paper rolls to old bottle caps, we’ll show you how to repurpose common items into beautiful art projects. These crafts are perfect for rainy days, classroom activities, or simply spending quality time at home.
Let’s dive into some fantastic recycled craft ideas that will make your kids excited about being creative and helping the planet!
1. Toilet Paper Roll Animals
Materials Needed:
Empty toilet paper rolls
Markers, crayons, or paint
Glue
Googly eyes (optional)
Paper or craft foam for ears, tails, and other features
Instructions:
Begin by cutting the toilet paper roll into smaller sections, approximately 2 to 3 inches each. These will be the bodies of your animals.
Let your child decorate the roll with paints, crayons, or markers. They can choose any animal they want, like a lion, owl, or rabbit.
Once the body is decorated, help your child cut out small pieces of paper or foam to create the animal’s ears, tails, and other features. For example, make triangles for cat ears or round shapes for an owl’s eyes.
Use glue to attach these additional features to the roll. If you have googly eyes, now is the time to add them for extra personality.
Let the creations dry, and then your child will have a collection of adorable toilet paper roll animals!
Why It’s Great: This craft is a perfect way to encourage children to think about animals and nature while teaching them the importance of recycling. Plus, it’s simple to make with minimal materials!
2. Bottle Cap Magnets
Materials Needed:
Old bottle caps (metal or plastic)
Paint, markers, or stickers
Small magnets
Glue
Instructions:
Start by collecting some old bottle caps from soda bottles or jars. Make sure they are clean and dry before using them.
Let your child decorate the bottle caps using paint, markers, or stickers. They can create designs, write their names, or even make faces and animals!
Once the paint or markers are dry, glue a small magnet to the back of each bottle cap.
Once everything is dry, the bottle cap magnets are ready to be displayed on the fridge or any metal surface.
Why It’s Great: Not only does this craft help teach kids about recycling, but it also turns an ordinary item like a bottle cap into something useful and fun. Plus, it’s a great way for kids to showcase their creativity and art skills.
3. Cardboard Box City
Materials Needed:
Empty cereal boxes or small cardboard boxes
Markers, crayons, or paint
Scissors
Glue
Instructions:
Gather a variety of cardboard boxes from your pantry or recycling bin. Small cereal boxes work well, but you can also use shoe boxes or other types of cardboard.
Cut the boxes into different shapes to create buildings, houses, and even skyscrapers.
Have your child decorate the boxes with paint or markers to resemble different types of buildings. They can make houses, shops, or even castles!
Once decorated, help them glue the boxes together to form a mini cityscape. They can arrange the buildings in any way they like to create their own urban world.
Use small toy cars, action figures, or dolls to complete the scene, turning it into a fun play space.
Why It’s Great: This craft allows kids to think outside the box (literally!) and create a detailed world out of recycled materials. It encourages problem-solving, imaginative play, and teamwork if done in a group.
4. Plastic Bottle Planters
Materials Needed:
Empty plastic bottles (preferably 2-liter bottles)
Paint or markers
Scissors
Potting soil
Small plants or seeds
Instructions:
Start by cutting the plastic bottle in half. The bottom half will serve as the planter.
Let your child paint the outside of the bottle with bright colors or fun designs to make it look decorative.
Once dry, fill the bottom half of the bottle with soil.
Help your child plant small plants or seeds in the soil. You can plant flowers, herbs, or even small succulents.
Place the bottle planter on a windowsill, and watch the plants grow!
Why It’s Great: Plastic bottle planters are a wonderful way to teach kids about gardening and sustainability. This craft allows children to connect with nature while recycling at the same time.
5. Egg Carton Flowers
Materials Needed:
Egg cartons (cardboard ones)
Paint, markers, or crayons
Green pipe cleaners (for stems)
Scissors
Glue
Instructions:
Cut individual cups from the egg carton. These will be the petals of the flower.
Have your child paint or color each cup with bright colors, such as red, pink, or yellow.
Once the flowers are dry, glue a pipe cleaner or straw to the bottom of each flower to create the stem.
You can make a bunch of these flowers and arrange them in a vase, or use them to decorate a room.
Why It’s Great: This is a simple yet charming craft that introduces kids to the concept of recycling materials in an easy and fun way. Plus, it’s a great way for them to work on their fine motor skills as they paint and glue the pieces together.
6. Recycled Paper Beads
Materials Needed:
Old magazines or scrap paper
Scissors
Glue
String or thread
Instructions:
Start by cutting the magazines or scrap paper into long, triangle-shaped strips.
Beginning at the wide end of the triangle, help your child roll the paper tightly into a bead.
Use a small dab of glue to secure the paper at the end of the strip.
Once the beads are dry, string them together to create necklaces, bracelets, or even keychains.
Why It’s Great: This craft teaches children the value of reusing old paper, and it also creates something beautiful and wearable. It’s a fun way to incorporate recycling into fashion!
7. Paper Roll Cars
Materials Needed:
Toilet paper or paper towel rolls
Bottle caps or buttons (for wheels)
Paint, markers
Glue, scissors
Instructions:
Cut the paper roll to the size you want for your car’s body.
Paint and decorate the roll to give it color and design. You can make it look like a race car, police car, or any type of vehicle your child likes.
Glue the bottle caps or buttons to the sides of the roll as wheels.
Let everything dry, and then your child can play with their new recycled toy cars!
Why It’s Great: This is a fantastic craft for kids who love cars and vehicles. It’s simple, fun, and shows how everyday items can be turned into toys.
Conclusion
Recycled crafts for kids are not only fun and educational, but they also help instill an important lesson in sustainability. By repurposing everyday materials like toilet paper rolls, bottle caps, and plastic bottles, kids can create something beautiful while learning about the environment and the value of reusing. Whether it’s making animals from toilet paper rolls or creating a cardboard box city, these easy recycled crafts are sure to keep kids entertained and inspired.
Next time you're looking for a creative way to spend an afternoon with your kids, try one of these fun and simple recycled craft projects. Not only will they have a blast creating their own art, but they’ll also gain an appreciation for recycling and eco-friendly practices.
So, get your crafting supplies ready and let the creativity flow!
Comments