Got a drawer full of straws, a pile of old magazines, or a stack of takeaway containers you can’t quite throw out? Turn them into your next rainy-day activity. These five art projects for kids to reuse and recycle are all about open-ended play — there are no strict instructions to follow, just simple starting points that let your children’s imagination take over.
We’re big believers in open-ended play when it comes to arts and crafts. Give your kids the materials, a few suggestions for how to use them, and then step back. There’s no single “right” way to do any of these projects — your children will probably come up with ideas you’d never have thought of yourself.
5 Art Projects For Kids
#1. Straws
If your kitchen drawers are anything like ours, they’re always full of straws. Put them to good use, along with any spare cupcake cases, to make cute little flowers.
Or, to match your child’s dress-up outfits, cut the straws into bead-sized pieces and thread them onto wool or string to create fun necklaces and bracelets.
#2. Milk or Juice Cartons
Empty milk and juice cartons make brilliant little houses with a coat of paint and some marker pens for windows and doors.
Why stop at one house? Build a whole village complete with shops, a school and a library. Give the kids free rein and you’ll be amazed at what they come up with.
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#3. Plastic Containers
Clean takeaway containers can become a miniature theatre or television. With a little help from you, your budding set designers can build their scenes and put on a mini play.
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#4. Magazines
If you’ve a pile of old magazines building up, it’s time to get the scissors out. Cut or rip them into pieces and rearrange them into a colourful collage. Colours, numbers and letters all work well as themes for this one.
#5. Plastic Flower Pots
Those brown or black plastic flower pots that pile up in the shed have more life left in them yet. A lick of paint, some googly eyes and a few straws for legs, and you’ve got yourself a spider or a crab.
They also make a lovely decorated basket for an Easter egg hunt, or can be turned into a simple bird house. Or, keep them doing their original job as a flower pot — just a much prettier one after a bit of colourful TLC.
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FAQs About Art Projects for Kids Using Recycled Materials
What household items are best for kids’ art and craft projects?
Straws, empty cartons, clean plastic containers, old magazines and plastic flower pots are all great starting points. They’re free, they’re usually heading for the bin anyway, and they hold up well to paint, glue and general handling by little hands.
What age group are these art projects suitable for?
Most of these ideas work well from toddler age up, with a bit of adult help for cutting or gluing. Older kids can take on more of the project independently, from designing their own carton village to building a full theatre set from containers.
How do I make recycled crafts more open-ended for my kids?
Set out the materials and a few starter ideas, then let your children decide what to make. Avoid giving step-by-step instructions — the goal is exploration, not a perfect finished product.
Are these art projects messy?
Some, like the magazine collage or painting flower pots, can get a little messy, so it’s worth covering the table or working outside if the weather allows. Straw crafts and carton houses are generally tidier options if you’re short on cleanup time.
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Save These Ideas For Later
Loved these art projects? Bookmark this page or save it to your favourite parenting board so you’ve got a ready-made list of screen-free, budget-friendly craft ideas whenever you need one.
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