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The Empowered Educator

Inspiring ideas, training and resources for early learning.

28 Fun Ideas to try with Recycled & Upcycled Resources!

by The Empowered Educator 12 Comments

 
Creating fun experiences for children doesn’t need to be expensive or difficult. I love to involve my children in experiences with recycled materials or in helping us to upcycle items we find that might look like rubbish but in fact can provide hours of fun with just a little effort.
 
 
I believe that introducing the concept of sustainability in play and in their day to day environment is one of the most important learning opportunities you can provide for children in today’s busy and often throw away society.
 
I know it can sometimes seem a little daunting though which is why I have collected some ideas and inspiration for you below. Some of the resources and activities require a little more preparation than others but there are plenty of quick and easy ideas too.
 
There is fun for both indoor and outdoor play…I hope you have fun exploring!
 
 
 
Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem
 
 

1. Explore some sensory fun with Bubble Wrap & Cardboard Rolls

 
Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem

2. Make your own musical shakers

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem
 

3. Build a Bus…or Train…or Plane!

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem

4. Get busy with old Deodorant Bottles

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem

5. Dye and Thread with egg cartons

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem

6. Use eggshells for craft and sensory fun

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem
 
 

7. Make a musical ‘tree’

Musical Banging Tree - Mummy Musings and Mayhem
 

8. Use pallet wood for block play

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem

9. Use more pallet wood to build a sand kitchen

 
Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem
 

10. Use even more pallet wood to make a kid’s garden

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem

11. Make a plastic bottle bell

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem
 

12. Build a seesaw 

DIY Recycled seesaw - Mummy Musings and Mayhem

13. Recycle baby food jars for some fine motor fun

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem

14. Use op shop potato mashers for stamping fun

15. If you’re handy with pallet timber….why not build an outdoor cafe?

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem

16. Or some outdoor scales for the sandpit

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem
 

17. Build a teepee with fallen tree branches

Easy DIY wooden teepee - Mummy Musings and Mayhem

18. Use spice jars to challenge toddler fine motor skills

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem

19. Turn plastic bottles into painting tools

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem
 

20. Recycle some cardboard to make a name or two

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem

21. Gather your baskets for sorting fun

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem

22. Cardboard rolls make perfect first threading tools

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem
 

23. As do egg cartons and straws

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem
 

24. More sensory fun with beautiful bubblewrap!

Sensory Bubble Clay ...a lovely experience for all ages using recycled and natural materials...Mummy Musings and Mayhem
 
 

25. Explore and create with recycled items from the toolshed

Fine motor sensory fun with magnets and recycled materials - See more at mummy musings and mayhem.com
 
Fine motor sensory fun with magnets and recycled materials - See more at mummy musings and mayhem.com
 
 
Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem
 

26. Use some jars to create a glowing keepsake

Make your own glow jars - easy gift idea for kids to make themselves! Find out how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem.com
 

27. Explore the many possibilities of wooden planks

Over 20 ways to use recycled and upcycled materials for play and learning with all ages - See how at Mummy Musings and Mayhem
 
 

28. Use tin cans to make some music outside

Recycled Tin Musical Spool Table - Mummy Musings and Mayhem

Which recyclable activity or material was your favourite?

Filed Under: Ideas for Frugal Fun, Ideas for Sustainability

« Exploring Wood and Tools – Playful Ideas for all Ages.
6 Fun Fine Motor Play Ideas with Tongs »

Comments

  1. Nichole Halliday says

    07/09/2014 at 5:05 am

    Some great ideas Jode. I love the outdoor cafe from the pallets – very clever! Sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      07/09/2014 at 8:38 pm

      Thanks for sharing Nichole 🙂 The outdoor cafe is very popular and gets used for so many different things now!

      Reply
  2. Kylie @ Octavia and Vicky says

    07/09/2014 at 9:39 pm

    So many fab ideas! Pinned and shared 🙂

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      25/09/2014 at 10:25 am

      Thanks Kylie xx

      Reply
  3. Jo@simplybeingmum says

    09/09/2014 at 8:45 am

    I have a soft spot for pallets anyway – so you’ve got me there! 😉

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      25/09/2014 at 10:25 am

      It’s hard not to love the humble pallet isn’t it!!

      Reply
  4. Jo (down to earth mother) says

    16/09/2014 at 12:18 am

    I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: I want to live at your house!!

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      25/09/2014 at 10:26 am

      Ah yes, think of the fun we would have Jo! And I guess the kids would too 😉

      Reply
  5. Be A Fun Mum says

    26/09/2014 at 9:28 pm

    So many fantastic ideas.

    Reply
  6. Kate Lloyd says

    28/09/2014 at 9:39 pm

    Wow, wow, wow! So many fantastic ideas. I could use this post like a check list! 😀

    Reply
  7. Kurzzeitkennzeichen says

    24/12/2014 at 5:45 pm

    My partner and I stumbled over here by a different web page and thought I may as well check things out.
    I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to going over your
    web page again.

    Reply
  8. B. Parker says

    28/09/2015 at 2:00 pm

    Great ideas! Me and my kids started talking about recycling recently and here are nice projects for us to make. Also recycling and creating is a good reason to spend some more time together. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

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Jodie
Hi, I'm Jode, Mum to 3 girls in Australia, and an early childhood educator, presenter and consultant.
I share ideas, inspiration & resources for play based, inquiry led learning
Find out more about me here...

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