Reduce, reuse and recycle with these 36 creative ides for upcycled kids crafts!
I don’t think it’s possible to be a hands-on mom without saving anything and everything imaginable. Ever since I started doing crafts and activities with Henry, we’ve been hoarding recyclables.
Henry actually has his own “recycling center” now. I love seeing him take ownership of recycling and upcycling!
Now, whenever he adds something to his stash, he’ll tell me what he’d like to do with it later. So cool!
So, what is worth saving? Because, let’s face it, not everything is worth saving.
36 Upcycled Kids Crafts & Activities to Make!
What can be upcycled and put to good use for the kids?
Always check your recycled items for danger and really gross dirtiness before you start crafting. Cans with roughed up edges, jars with cracks in them, or really gross paper products can all safely stay in your recycling bin.
We took a good look at our recycling bin – and checked with some of our favorite bloggers – for items that are usually in there. And we found tons of things that can be turned into 36 recycled kids crafts and activities!
What are you and your family going to upcycle first?
It’s not just limited to these! I’m collecting more and more ways to create upcycled kids crafts on Pinterest. It’s neverending!
Get more cool ideas with the complete Hands On As We Grow upcycled kids crafts and activities collection!
Art : DIY Upcycled Crayons
9 Hands on Ways to be Earth-Friendly
Encourage Kids to Be Green: 10 Recycled Art Projects for Kids
15 Recycling Activities for Kids That Are Completely FREE
It’s Playtime! Love the Earth
Danny Paul says
Recycling protects the world from environmental changing and harmful substances like dust. By recycling old stuff. One decreases the amount of rubbish that will go to the dustbins as well as saves people from harmful diseases.
Black Widow says
People are so creative!
Rubbish into fun says
So many green, fun projects, can’t decide which one is my favourite! It is with such creative activities and initiatives that we should raise our kids into respecting the environment and not taking it for granted.
Chloe Dawson says
These are great ideas! My daughters and I were talking about recycling recently and these are good projects to make and to spend some nice time together. Thanks for the inspiration!
Patricia Bends says
Kids really love upcycled items, be it a toy or a lamp. My observation shows that upcycling educates children in the right time on questions like fighting waste and preserving new resources. Recently I found another big list filled with upcycling ideas and projects, you can give it a try, it might inspire you for another upcycling goodie!
http://rubbishbegone.co.uk/blog/28-fun-trash-to-treasure-ideas-for-creative-art-a-fun-way-of-looking-at-serious-crafts/
ohhdaave OG says
brill
Jessica says
I like the layout you set up. Way more user-friendly than the many lists I’ve come across where all of the images are massed together with a long list of links below..making it hard to tell what goes with what. Please keep this improved format and tell your fellow Bloggers about it!
Kristin @ Sense of Wonder says
Thanks so much for featuring our metal lid magnet tub! This is a great list
JDaniel4's Mom says
What wonderful ideas! I love all the ways people came up with to recycle.
Kathy @ MerrimentDesign.com says
Thanks for including my oatmeal container activity! Also for introducing me to your blog because it's new to me – am now following on twitter and pinterest :)
maggy, red ted art says
Nothing quite like crafting with recyclables! LOVE IT!
Thank you for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!
Maggy
Gail Terp says
Outstanding ideas – I look forward to trying some. Thanks!
Amy's Cooking Adventures says
Thanks for sharing my paper bag activity! What a fun group of activities for kids!
Kristina says
Saw this and thought of our can discussion… http://ohhappyday.com/2012/02/mini-cakes-diy/
Wouldn't it be fun and yummy to re-use some cans this way?
Great round up!! Will need to spend some time pinning this weekend.
Jamie @ hands on : as we grow says
Dorothy! — that is one brilliant idea you have! I'm so saving my milk jugs for that! I think the Sunny D jugs would be the best – they're square and seem sturdier. Love that idea. Really really do!
Melissa @ The Chocolate Muffin Tree says
Thanks for the feature of our CD hovercraft! We had so much fun with that and need to revisit it again soon! Thanks for the great round up—-as always!
Esther says
Wonderful Collection of upcycled crafts! Thanks for featuring our packing peanut sculpture
Dorothy says
This was great! I'd like to add- I like to take two milk/juice cartons and cut the tops off. I jam one inside the other open end to open end to make a closed block. After a while you amass a large enough collection for a set of building blocks. If you are really ambitious I suppose you could decopage or contact paper them.
Kristi @ Creative Connections for Kids says
Thanks for sharing our milk jug toss! Love this round-up. I find myself using more and more recyclables all of the time. :)
Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum says
What a great list of ideas – we have the recycling centre as well for J – it's growing with everything that he thinks he could make something with.
OneMommy says
What an assortment of great ideas!
Terri Thompson says
Great list!!