Upcycling

Upcycling is a must-do for every hands-on mom! There are TONS of different ways to upcycle. To get started, check out 34 Recycled Kids Crafts & Activities.

Looking for something? Search for activities:

Super Simple Turkey Ring Toss Thanksgiving Activity for Kids

Fall Sensory Bottles are Quick and Easy for Kids to Make

DIY Giant Bubble Wand for Summer Fun

Pool Noodle Activities that are New and Exciting

36 Upcycling Ideas for Kids: Recycled Crafts & Activities for Kids to Make!

Cutest Upcycled Snowman Project for Kids

A Winter Craft: Snowman Puppets!

Upcycled Oh-So-Pretty Christmas Tree Craft

Simple Stacking Cups Activity for Toddlers

Visual Addition Pom Pom Drop

Make a Wave Bottle for Kids to Explore

Perfectly Simple Cardboard Tube Activities for the Whole Week

Pom Pom Drop Activity for Toddlers + Benefits for All Ages

23+ Simple Nature Activities for Kids to Create, Explore & Learn

27 Tin Can Crafts & Activities For Kids!

10 Easy Recycled Art Projects & Fun Ideas for Kids

Simple & Pretty Homemade Wind Chimes Kids Can Make!

Books in a Box: A Simple Reading Adventure

Christmas Wrapping Paper Tree & Presents Matching

Kids’ DIY Popsicle Stick Frame Craft for Artwork & Photos

Balance Beam for Toddlers Super Easy DIY at Home

Easy Cupcake Liner Flowers! Simplified for Toddlers to Practice Threading

Make an Ocean Sensory Bottle with a Whale!

5 Fun Learning Activities with Bottles and Caps

Simple Cardboard Airplane Craft for Kids

Fizzling Fireworks Painting with Straws: Bursting, Dazzling & Easy to Do!

CandyLand Color Sorting Game with Lots of Movement

Simple Sensory Foil Activity to Wrap, Strengthen Fingers & Explore Texture

How to Make a Simple DIY Hand Drum Craft for Kids

30 Easy Must-Make Summer Crafts for Kids

Easy Egg Carton Matching Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

A Great Garland Craft Made From Your Child’s Sparkly Scrape Art

2 Easy Play Cars and Paper Tube Activities for Toddlers

Spring Flower Art Collage

Pom Pom Push Fine Motor Activity to Keep Toddlers Busy

Easy Spring Tree Toilet Paper Roll Craft for Toddlers

Easy DIY Geoboard for Toddlers to Make Stars & Simple Shapes

This Screw Driver Activity is Fine Motor Play for Preschoolers with Real Tools

40+ Cardboard Crafts for Kids

No-Prep Turkey Fine Motor Game for Kids

Sticky Spider Web Activity That Is Fun and Simple

CHOMP! Feed the Tennis Ball Pac-Man! A Squeezing Fine Motor Activity

60 Earth Day Crafts, Activities & Food Ideas for Kids

Scrappy Snowman Match Up: Sort by Size Activity

Easy DIY Memory Matching Game for Kids to Play

Abstract Toilet Paper Roll Sculptures Simple for Preschoolers

Quick and Simple How to Make DIY Foam Stamps with Kids

Make a Bubble Wrap Runway for Kids of All Ages

Make Your Own Simple Telescope Craft for Kids

Beach Ball and Summer Dinnerware Crafts Easy for Kids to Make

Silly Sock Bubble Snakes Activity for Kids

Simple Cereal Box Math Puzzle Search and Solve for Kids

Easy Microphone Craft for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Easy DIY Stacking Toy Activity for Baby and Toddlers

Wrapped Yarn Vase Craft for Mother’s Day

Upcycled Planter Flower Garden for Kids

Simple DIY 3D Balloon Birthday Card Craft for Kids

Easy DIY Cereal Box Puzzles to Learn to Count

Super Simple DIY Tin Can Drums for Kids to Make

Upcycled Number Matching Box

Simple and Fun Card Sorting Slot Activity

Make Your Own Board Games for Kids

Light Up Ghost Craft for Halloween

On-The-Go Geoboard Using Food Pouch Caps

How to Learn Number Orders with a Number Chain

Create a Memory Box To Save Special Moments

Paint the Pasta! Creative Noodle Painting for Kids

Upcycled Clock: A Color Matching Activity

Touch & Feel Hanukkah Game for Kids

Simple Lid Frisbee Toss Game for Kids

Homemade Leaf Blower Fall Craft for Kids

Easy Sound Sensory Jars to Make & Play

Simple Toothpick Activity for Fine Motor Skills

Junk Art Robot From the Making Box

Fun & Simple Cornhole Game for Kids to Make

Mega Bloks Rube Goldberg Machine to Pour Cereal

Fine Motor Activity for Toddlers To Do with a Plastic Bottle

Indoor Throwing Activity That Won’t Break Breakables

Easy to Make [and Fun to Use] Catch the Ball Toy

Boat Craft for Kids to Make from Juice Boxes

Upcycled Sand or Water Scoop [and Funnel] for Summer

15 Recycling Activities for Kids That Are Completely FREE

Completely Upcycled Homemade Wrapping Paper for Teacher’s Gift

Fall Leaf Collage made with Bubble Wrap Art

The Kids Went Dumpster Diving… in a Cardboard Box!

Reuse Lotion for a Smelling Sensory Activity

St. Patrick’s Day Craft: Bubble Wrap Printed Shamrock

Stamped Heart Valentine’s Day Art Project

Toddler Craft: Wrapping Paper Stocking

Halloween Craft: Spooky Treat Holders (A Candy Bag Alternative)

It’s Playtime! Love the Earth

Fly a Homemade and Recycled Kite!

Paint a Cardboard Town

Energetic Activity: Letter Sound Punch Game

What Can We Use Egg Cartons For? Make a Train

9 Hands on Ways to be Earth-Friendly

30 Days to Hands on Play : Play in a Box

Baby Play : Baby Food Jars

Make a Tin Can Forest for Outdoor Pretend Play

Hey! I'm Jamie. I have 3 boys that are crazy energetic & we like to have fun!

Hands On As We Grow Newsletter

"It is hard to think of things to keep the 3 year old entertained and engaged while taking care of the baby. Everything we have tried so far from your website, the three year old has loved. Your ideas are so simple and he can do them for hours. HEAVEN!" - Karen I.
I am now one happy Dad!

"You have changed how I spend time with my kid in so many positive ways! I am now one happy dad that no longer wonders what I am going to do with this little guy for the next 12 hours :P Your site was this first time dad life saver!" - Jack C.
Hands On As We Grow Newsletter

"I feel like a new mama having so many fun ideas. I used to dread the afternoon, after naps, as it was so boring doing the same thing day after day but now I look forward to our "play" time!" - Haley S.
Free Activity Challenge

"Thank you so much for these activities. They have proven to me that I CAN be that mom that does cool and creative things with her kids! And those cool and creative things can actually be quite simple! What a revelation. Thank you!!" - Katie M.
Activity Plans eBooks

"This takes down the need to scour the internet for ideas. It's like looking for a recipe on the internet, so many options that often times it is less overwhelming to look in a book on the shelf than stress about too many options." Robyn G
So organized and easy to use.

I have found it impossible to Google ideas from a million different sites, get organized, shop for supplies, etc. This is exactly what I have been searching for! Thanks for making something so organized and easy to use. - Early Years Activity Plans User, Melissa C.
The Activity Room Member

"I absolutely love that this takes all the prep work out of engaging my children. It is so easy to just put up the calendar, and glance at it for inspiration when we are in a funk." - Rachel
Grateful to have activities handed to us...

"There's always something new for us to discover, as well as old favorites. I am so grateful to have activities handed to us... Fun and easy ones that can be put together in a moment's notice! You're awesome Jamie and I appreciate you sharing your activities and ideas!!" - Melissa C.