As you likely already know, recycling and upcycling are two of the best ways to keep our environment greener, longer. However, just throwing your old tins cans, paper rolls, and the like is no fun! So here are some recycling and upcycling projects that the whole family can enjoy!
Projects With Tin Cans
From tins food cans to beer cans, they can all be easily transformed into a fun and exciting projects, some that even create useful items! One of our favorites is making wind chimes from tin cans. First, have the kids decorate the cans. Let them get creative, using glue, glitter, paint, markers, stickers, whatever they want! Then, punch a hole through the bottom, put a string through it, and attach them to a hanger or hoop, as seen above. Suddenly, you have a great wind chime for many years to come, that will always remind you of your children!
You can also cut the cans in half and hang them horizontally, making them bird feeders. Though, if you do this, make sure to sand the cans down before you have your children decorate them. Also, keep bird safety in mind when decorating the cans!
Resuing Cardboard Boxes
Thanks to Amazon, many around the United States have more cardboard boxes than they know what to do with. Of course, you can always reuse cardboard boxes as, well, boxes! Garage and closet storage always looks so much better when everything is neatly placed in boxes and labeled.
However, if you’re looking for something a little more fun to do with your cardboard boxes, why not try upcycling them into something better, like large dice that children will enjoy using with all their favorite board games. Plus, all you need is a box, markers, and a bit of tape! You can also use paint, to make the project not only longer but a lot more colorful.
Upcycling Plastic Bottles
Behind Amazon boxes, plastic bottles might be the most common item that we all recycle. So, turning those bottles into upcycling projects will not only provide quality time with your family, but also help our Earth as green as can be. Believe it or not, making planters out of plastic bottles is not only one of the easiest ways to reuse a bottle, but also one of the most creative! Even better, let the kids decorate them and decide where they should go: in the ground, hanging on the wall, inside, outside, the options are endless!
Projects With Paper Rolls
While toilet paper tubes are definitely not as harmful to the environment or as hard to recycle as other products, but don’t just throw them out! They can still turn into great upcycling projects! When the holidays are coming, these can even be transformed into decorations with enough colors and glitter.
While working with children, don’t forget that some crafts can be dangerous. Be careful and don’t hand kids hot glue gun, nails or a hammer, and always supervise while they are having fun.
Sources: DuraFresh, OneGreenPlanet