There’s always a corner in everyone’s house cluttered with piles of cardboard, newspapers and similar waste material; gathering dust and awaiting its journey to the dump yard!
You may have preserved these items with the ambition of teaching your child about recycling but alas you never found the time! With the summer vacation coming up, making best out of waste may be a fabulous idea of spending quality time with kids.
Such activities help convert waste material into something productive and simultaneously stimulate creativity in kids.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s get to work!
1. Parking Zone
Help your child create a parking lot with a waste cardboard box. This is an amazing waste material creative idea that inspires children to keep their toy automobiles in place. What a relief! No more cars or trucks lying all around the house.
Material Required:
1. Cardboard box
2. Paint and paintbrush
3. Vehicles
4. A pair of scissors
Directions:
1. Open a cardboard box and cut the upper fold.
2. Now utilise this fold to make a ramp. Stick it as a ramp on the side.
3. Paint the ramp, both sides in black. Make white strips on the road to ensure the resemblance is perfect.
4. Enhance the look by numbering parking slots on the upper deck.
5. Cut out two openings so that the vehicles can drive through.
6. Your parking lot is ready. Take the toy vehicles and park them in the desired slot!
2. Wildflowers with Bottle Caps
Ever imagined creating an artefact with bottle caps? This activity will engross and enthral your child. Here’s what you need to make wildflowers in a jiffy! Don’t forget to display the end result on the wall.
Material Required:
1. Bottle cap
2. Paint and paintbrush
3. Paper
Directions:
1. Dip a bottle cap in the paint. Now create symmetrical patterns of wildflowers on a piece of paper.
2. Complete the look by painting the stems and leaves in green.
3. Craft Miniature Post box
This miniature post box will take you down the memory lane. It will also acquaint your little one with this rarity of modern living. Take this opportunity to explain how letters reach their destination the conventional way. You could even leave a love note in this post box for your precious one every day!
Material Required:
1. Plastic jar
2. Paper cutter
3. Glue
4. Paint and paintbrush
5. Black paper
Directions:
1. Begin with painting the jar red in colour and do its lid in black. Let it dry for a few minutes.
2. Cut a rectangle from black paper.
3. Make two slits and fold the paper upwards.
4. Using white paint, write ‘LETTERS’ and paste it on the box.
5. Now cut a small slit to insert letters.
6. Remember to supervise your child’s actions while using the paper cutter.
4. Chic Coasters
This is an artistic way of reusing old CDs. Watch the thrill and pride on the faces of your kids, when guests use their innovative creation.
Material Required:
1. Old CDs
2. Thin Cardboard
3. Felt pens
4. Scissors
5. Glue
6. Scraps of old fabric
Directions:
1. Trace the outline of the CD on the cardboard. You will need two such cardboard traces and cut- outs to make one coaster.
2. Stick the cut-out cardboard circles on each side of the disk. This will render strength to the coaster and help cover the hole in the CD.
3. Now take scraps of fabric lying waste in the house. Trace the outline on the fabric and cut it.
4. Glue the top of the cardboard and paste the fabric scraps.
5. Your innovative and chic coasters are ready to use! They are reversible too.
5. Popsicle Photo Frames
It’s time to display your favourite snaps in unique photo frames designed and created by you.
Material Required:
1. Popsicle sticks
2.Scissors
3. Glue
4. Paint
5. Crayons
6. Whitepaper
Directions:
1. Paint the Popsicle sticks in your favourite colour on both sides.
2. Stick them in a manner so as to form a square shape. Let the ends jut out on all four sides.
3. Cut a white paper a little larger than the size of the Popsicle square. Paste the Popsicle sticks square to the white paper.
4. Your frame is ready! Hang a photograph or a handmade drawing.
Summary
If you’re looking for ways to make your child stay away from that TV or Smartphone, you certainly need to explore these ideas.
Boost your child’s motor skills, spur the creativity, and kill the boredom all with one shot! It’s time to bring your innovative ideas into existence.
