Recycled Craft Ideas For Kids

If you are running out of things to keep your kids occupied then I’ve got some great, free recycled craft ideas for kids made from the contents of your recycling bin for your kids to tackle.  All the crafts are super fun and great for nursery school-aged kids and up (although adult supervision and in some cases, help, is definitely required).

6 Recycled Craft Ideas For Kids

Here are the six recycled craft ideas for you and your kids to try out:

1. Tin Can Telephone Craft

The old favourite.  This one needs a fair bit of help from adults but is great fun.  Wash out two tin cans (that ideally have been opened with a smooth edge tin can opener to avoid any sharp edges.  Although covering the edge with tape is good too). Then use a nail and hammer to make a hole in the bottom. Tie a long bit of string between the two (with the knot on the inside of the can) and start talking.

Image via Made By Joel

2. Recycled Tin Can Stilts

Sticking with cans for the moment, they also make great stilts.  Larger tins are best for older kids if you have them, otherwise, stick to small cans for littler people. Again, an adult is needed here for this particular kid’s craft idea: use a nail and hammer to make two holes on the bottom edge and try a loop of string through for your kids to hold on to. The decoration is then all down to your kids.

Image via The Mud Pie Makers

3. Crafty Toilet Roll Owls

Empty toilet roll tubes make great owls and are a simple craft idea that kids will love. Simple push two edges together at one end to make the ears and then grab a pen and start colouring, or some coloured paper and start cutting and sticking.  You can even hang them up afterwards with some string.

Image via Sew Gorgeous

4. Plastic Bottle Bowling

If you happen to have a couple of plastic bottles in your recycling (I like a bit of sparkling water now and again – a guilty pleasure – so often have a plastic bottle kicking about in the recycling bin) then collect them up to make your own recycled bowling set.

Kids can decorate the outside however they like (although a fun way is to squirt a bit of paint inside, screw the lid on tight, and then get your kids to shake it until the inside is completely coated) and when they’re done, line them up and use a light ball as your bowl.  Striiiiiike!

5. Crafty Bottle Cap Memory Game

For this craft idea for kids, you’ll need quite a collection of identical bottle caps for this game.

Inside each one stick a bit of paper with a number on it, or a small picture (as long as you have a duplicate). Use each number/image twice and then lay them out neatly. You turn over two each go, and the aim of the game is to pick two of the same. When you’ve picked a pair, take them out of the game and keep on going. The person with the most pairs at the end wins.

Image via Crafty Beats

6. Recycled Tin Can Drums

Another old kids’ craft favourite.  A drum, made from a tin can and a balloon.  You can add some stale rice into the mix too if you’re in the market for a headache, or if you’ve got a babysitter/grandparents coming around!  Add a handful of rice or lentils to your empty can.  Cut the end off the balloon and then stretch this over the top of your can.  Secure it in place with an elastic band.  Some chopsticks or skewers will make good drumsticks.  However, you might want to cover the ends of the sticks with large balls of plasticine or blue tac to stop them from poking their eyes.

Image via Mini Eco

What are your favourite recycled craft ideas for kids? I also have some more eco-friendly crafts – try this fun statement necklace made from old buttons or this cushion cover made from an old jumper.

Happy crafting!