How to Make Toys For Kids Out of Recycled Materials

Tambourine

• 1

  Clean two lightly soiled white paper plates. Paint the bottoms of the paper plates with craft paint and allow to dry. Allow kids to personalize their tambourine with favorite colors, scenery or their names.

• 2

  Glue the plates together along the rim, with the eating sides facing inward and the painted sides on the outside. Press along the edges while allowing glue to dry.

• 3

  Punch holes every 2 to 3 inches along the joined rim of the plates with a hole punch. Be careful not to get too close to the edge.

• 4

  Attach a jingle bell through each hole with thin ribbon or yarn. Let the kids create music!

Bowling Set

• 5

  Soak six plastic water bottles and remove the labels. Allow to completely dry.

• 6

  Fill each water bottle with 2 inches of play sand and screw the caps back on.

• 7

  Decorate the water bottles with stickers.

• 8

  Line up the water bottles like bowling pins and let kids roll a play ball to knock them down.

Maracas

• 9

  Paint two empty toilet paper rolls with craft paint. Swirls and dots against a bright background will make maracas look festive. Allow paint to dry.

• 10

  Cut four circles from construction paper large enough to cover the ends of the rolls. Leave a 1- to 2-inch overlap.

• 11

  Glue two of the circles on one end of each roll with craft glue and allow to dry.

• 12

  Fill each roll with a handful of dry beans or rice.

• 13

  Glue the remaining two construction paper circles on the other ends of the rolls. Allow to dry, then shake away.