How to Create Preschool Recycled Crafts that are Fun!

Inside: Creating preschool recycled crafts is not only fun, but it’s also a great way to reuse stuff you have in your home or classroom!

You want to do crafts with your children, but you don’t want to once again search for materials for that activity.

First of all, it takes your precious time to hit the local craft store.

Secondly, if you are on a budget (which many of us are), you don’t want to purchase one more thing that you might only use once.

Not to mention, finding a place to store these new materials.

So, what to do?

Use what you already have, of course!

Create Recycled Crafts

Think about what you toss in your recycle bin week after week.

• Paper tubes
• Plastic lids
• Egg cartons
• Bubble wrap

These are just some examples. There are so many more recycled materials that you can use with your children to create art.

So, let’s take a look!

I’ve put together a collection of easy and fun preschool recycled crafts that can be done at your kitchen table, if you are at home, or at your art table, if you are in a classroom setting.

I tried to find the simplest ideas out there that don’t require much supervision.

Some, of course, are easier than others. You can determine which ones your children would enjoy based on their interests.

How to Create Preschool Recycled Crafts 

The “how to” part of this varies with each activity below.

Click on the link and it will take you to the post with the directions, as well as supply list and other important pieces of information.

• Paint with Paper Tubes – Save those toilet paper or paper towel tubes! Toddlers and preschoolers love using them to stamp paint.
• Stamp with Sewing Spools – If you or someone you know sews, save those empty thread spools for a fun paint activity.
• Roll Paint on Bubble Wrap – Did you get a package recently with bubble wrap? Recycle it for a fun process art idea.
• Make a Birdfeeder – Take a plastic lid from something like a sour cream or cottage cheese container, add some beads, and hang in the tree!
• Add Some Sparkle to the Room – This is a fun way to reuse plastic clear lids! Just add sparkly pieces and hang in the window. (The Craft Train)
• Create Your Own Stamps – This is really cool. Make your own stamps using bottle tops! (Crafts on Sea)
• Create a Monster Truck – Everyone has old CDs they need to discard. Why not turn them into vehicles with big wheels? (Glued to My Crafts)
• Paint on Paper Bags – Love this idea! These would be great to save and use as a gift bag for upcoming birthdays! (Art Bar Blog)
• Make a Mask – A wonderful way to use paper plates. The example shown is a polar bear mask, but you can let your child decide what type of mask to create.
• Print with Soda Cans – Grab a few soda cans from the recycling bin, add paint, and stamp! (No Time for Flash Cards)

Recycled Crafts for Toddlers

If you have toddlers, they might be able to do some of the activities in this collection. Especially those that involve stamping paint.

Our toddlers absolutely love stamping anything in paint and then onto paper.

But truly, for this age group it can be as simple as placing an egg carton on the table along with some paint.

What they love most is the action involved.

They want to paint.

They don’t necessarily care about the outcome.

Our toddlers have painted on newspaper, foil, bubble wrap, egg cartons, boxes ….

See where I’m going with this?

The goal is to have fun!

Speaking of toddlers, I have a huge collection of indoor activities with a free printable list:

More collections for toddlers and preschoolers:

20 Fun and Easy Toddler Activities for Home

16 Preschool Play Date Ideas for Home

20+ Preschool Counting Activities for School and Home