[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] Play with recycled materials. Toys you can make from recyclables (31–40)
Soap bubbles made with a plastic bottle
@n.annlee321 I'll write the usable bottles and additional notes in the comments ☺️✨#tiktok video contest#tiktok classroomLife with children
Classic Medley 2019 – Pianica Magician
You can play without blowing! Enjoy soap bubbles using a plastic bottle.
The key is to prepare a soft plastic bottle that dents with a squeeze.
Cut a hole in the cap with scissors and insert the mouthpiece of a bubble wand into the hole—voilà, it’s ready in no time.
Dip the tip into bubble solution and squeeze the bottle to pump out bubbles.
This is a perfect idea for young children who might have trouble blowing bubbles or for kids who want to practice hand and finger movements.
Playing with clothes
How about incorporating a newspaper clothing activity that nurtures children’s creativity? There’s no fixed way to make the clothes, so kids of any age can enjoy it! They can try all kinds of designs like dresses, skirts, and capes.
You can also make it stylish with tweaks like tying the waist with vinyl tape or cutting and separating sections to create pleats.
Of course, simply cutting holes for the neck and arms will turn it into clothing, so give it a try easily.
cute glasses
Let’s make stylish, handmade glasses using a toilet paper roll.
First, flatten the cardboard tube and mark it with two different kinds of masking tape.
Next, using the markings as a guide, cut off the four corners with scissors.
Then, along the markings, cut out two sections in the middle.
Turn it over and trim away any excess parts to bring it closer to the shape of glasses.
Restore the flattened tube to its original round shape, adjust it into the shape of glasses, and you’re done.
It will look cute whether you use solid-colored masking tape or patterned tape.
wiggly snake
Even in everyday life, it’s rare to see snakes in the city, isn’t it? So how about making a snake this time using a toilet paper roll? Let’s recreate a snake’s wiggly movement with toilet paper.
All you need are toilet paper rolls, scissors, and pipe cleaners.
Just cut the toilet paper roll to the sizes you need and connect the pieces with the pipe cleaners to finish.
Then add some color, and you’ll have a three-dimensional snake.
Its wriggling motion looks almost like a real snake, so enjoy that curious sensation as you make it!
catch-ball machine
How about making a fun catch-ball machine that shoots the ball and pawn with a satisfying pop? First, cut a circle in the center of a paper plate to match the diameter of a toilet paper tube, then cut away one quarter of the plate and overlap the edges to form a cone, taping it in place.
Next, cut slits into one end of the toilet paper tube, hook two rubber bands in a cross shape into the slits, secure them with tape so they don’t come off, and attach a ball made by wrapping tissues with tape to the rubber bands.
Thread the toilet paper tube through the hole in the paper plate and fix it in place.
Finally, make one more soft ball out of tissues and tape, and you’re done.
It’s fun to play alone, and making several to play with family or friends sounds great too!