[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)
chain drop
Let’s make a toy called a “chain dropper” using a milk powder can! It’s very easy to make.
Attach the parts of Anpanman’s face to the lid of the can, then cut out the mouth area with a utility knife.
After that, secure the lid with tape so it won’t come off, and just put the chain inside! Little kids love putting things into small holes like this—and they love pulling them out, too! It’s a simple toy, but it’s a classic favorite among children.
Give it a try!
Marble Drop
Why not try making a marble drop inspired by Anpanman? The base will be a plastic bottle.
First, cut it into three equal sections, then insert a piece of thick paper between the sections and reassemble them.
Punch marble-drop holes in the thick paper and decorate it to evoke Anpanman.
You could also make the thick paper look like Anpanman’s or Baikinman’s face.
Once you add the marbles, it’s complete.
Its cute appearance and the sound of the marbles dropping will captivate children.
plastic bottle cap
The spinning top made by connecting plastic bottle caps with string has a unique wind-catching shape and a colorful look that really stands out.
Make a hole in the center of each cap, connect them with string to form a ring, and adjust the angles as you shape it into a circle.
Once it’s neat and round, attach round pieces of thick paper to the top and bottom center, make holes in them, and add the axle to finish.
If it’s too small and hard to spin, try increasing the number of connected caps or making the axle larger for an easier grip.
Also pay attention to which direction it spins more easily, and aim for a more stable rotation.
drop-in box toy
Let’s make a drop-in toy that makes a fun sound when pieces fall in.
The base is an empty milk can.
Cut a hole in the lid to create the entry for dropping pieces.
Next, decorate the can with felt or other materials.
It would be lovely to make the round lid look like Anpanman’s face, too.
Once the can is ready, make the pieces to drop.
You can do this by combining two plastic bottle caps—simple! Its straightforward design makes it easy and appealing to try.
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.
