These projects are an opportunity for you and a child to make something fun out of something that would be thrown away. Use these opportunities to teach the child that some items can be used more than once.
It’s a great way for children to learn to be creative!
Pretend Binoculars
Items Needed:
- 2 empty toilet paper rolls
- Non-toxic paint
- Glue
- Hole punch
- Yarn
Directions:
- Paint toilet paper rolls using different colors to create a design; let dry thoroughly.
- Lay toilet paper rolls side by side and apply glue where they touch each other. Hold together to make sure glue has dried.
- Select the top of the tubes. With hole punch, make a hole in each tube on the top outside; put end of yarn through each hole and tie a knot on each end so it will not pull through hole.
- Yarn forms a “necklace” so child can wear the binoculars around the neck.
Roll Over Treasures
Items Needed:
- Two or more empty plastic liter bottles
- Scrap items to decorate the bottles
- Glue
- Tennis ball
Directions:
- Clean and dry bottles.
- Have a “home treasure hunt” to find scrap items such as buttons, glitter, artificial flowers, garland, etc.
- Decorate bottles by gluing scrap items on them to make them look shiny and special.
- Let the bottles dry completely.
- Play “indoor bowling by setting up the bottles and rolling the tennis ball toward them to knock them over.
Make A Boat
Items Needed:
- Egg carton lid
- Aluminum foil
- Straw
- Bright paper
- Hole punch
- Modeling clay or plasticine
Directions:
- Cover carton lid with foil.
- Cut paper in shape of a sail (a right triangle with the left side straight and the right side slanted).
- Use the hole punch, make two holes in paper 1 inch from top and bottom.
- Thread the straw through the holes to make the sail for the boat.
- Place a small amount of clay in the middle of the boat.
- Insert straw into clay so that it will stand upright.
- Now go ahead and float the boat!
