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.
