[Childcare] Playing with scrap materials: Toys you can make from recycled items
Cardboard toilet paper rolls, milk cartons, plastic bottles—there are many kinds of scrap materials that can be repurposed.
Many of you have probably used them as materials for crafts.
In this article, we’ll introduce play ideas for early childhood settings that use scrap materials, as well as toys you can make and play with using them.
At first glance, scrap materials can be hard to figure out how to play with, but that’s exactly why children can use their free imagination to play with them in all sorts of ways.
If you’re thinking of trying some play with children using scrap materials, please use this as a reference and give it a try!
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[Childcare] Playing with Recycled Materials: Toys You Can Make from Recyclables (41–50)
Shinkansen
Perfect for kids who love vehicles! Let’s make a movable Shinkansen (bullet train).
Recommended for children ages 4 and up.
First, cut a straw to match the length of a toilet paper roll core, and attach it to the top of the core.
Decorate it by using vinyl tape to create the Shinkansen design and drawing windows with a pen.
Finally, thread some kite string through the straw, and it’s done! Children can play by each holding one end of the string with a friend, or enjoy it as a wall-mounted toy—there are lots of ways to have fun.
You can make it even more exciting by increasing the number of trains or creating different types of trains to expand the play.
Newspaper Paper Kendama
This newspaper kendama is perfect for craft-loving kids aged 4 and up.
You can make both the kendama body and the ball entirely out of newspaper! The fun continues after making it, which is part of its charm.
For the body, stack several sheets of newspaper and roll them into a triangle; for the ball, crumple newspaper into a sphere and secure it with tape.
To finish, attach kite string to both the body and the ball—and you’re done! You can adjust the difficulty by changing the size of the body and ball, so feel free to tweak it to suit your child’s age and enjoy.
Playing bus with newspaper handles
Let’s make newspaper handles for playing bus pretend! Ordinary newspaper transforms into a steering wheel.
Stack several sheets, roll them up, shape them into a circle, and decorate with vinyl tape—done! Teachers and caregivers can prepare them in advance, or make them together with children depending on their age.
Use the handles you made and play along with the song “Basugokko no Uta” (Bus Pretend Song)! This activity is especially recommended for kids who love vehicles, so be sure to give it a try.
Cube puzzle made from a milk carton
Let’s try making a cube puzzle using a milk carton! First, open up the carton and cut it horizontally to make three strips, each 6.5 cm wide.
Next, use double-sided tape to stick two different colors of construction paper onto the cut carton pieces.
Tape two of the strips into loops, and then thread the remaining strip through those two loops before taping it into a loop as well.
Finally, decorate with your favorite stickers or drawings, and you’re done.
You can enjoy looking at the different designs on each face and repeatedly fitting pieces together—there are lots of ways to play.
It’s sure to positively support children’s fine motor skills and brain development!
Paper popper game
How about making a paper popper out of newspaper and having some fun? It works best with large sheets like newspapers or flyers, so give it a try! Fold the newspaper like origami to make a triangular paper popper.
Depending on the child’s age, they can make it on their own, or together with a teacher or guardian.
Once it’s finished, you can pop it over and over! Please be mindful that some children may be sensitive to loud noises or sudden impacts, and take special care when playing.
You can enjoy matching pictures too! A plastic bottle toy
Here’s an idea for a PET bottle toy that’s perfect for educational play.
First, prepare several plastic bottles.
Next, cut each bottle at about one-third from the top.
Then, insert a piece of thick paper with a character drawn on it into the open section.
Finally, stick a sticker of the same character on the bottle cap, and it’s complete.
Kids can enjoy opening and closing the caps and matching the character designs.
Using caps in different colors makes it look colorful and extra cute.
In conclusion
How did you like the ideas for playing with scrap materials? Even with the same materials, there are many ways to play, so try finding an activity that interests you.
It’s also a good idea to show the materials to your child and ask how they’d like to play.
You might be surprised by some wonderful, unexpected ideas!