Art and craft recycling for toddlers and preschoolers

My motto is "waste not, want not".

I dont know about you, but Im a born scavenger who loves rummaging around other peoples junk for things I can add to my art and craft activity basket. You see, I have a gorgeous little Grandchild who loves to make things out of the bits and pieces I collect and its all I can do to keep up with her.

My basket contains scraps of colored material and felt, paper, plastic bottles, large metal bottle caps, elastic bands, plastic containers, cardboard tubes, rolls of silver foil, sticks and twigs, pine cones, corks, and cardboard boxes.

I even collect old clothes, hats, gloves and wigs. Nothing is safe!

Brittany delights in dressing up and has made things like toy cars, a miniature garage, and a foil helmet to name just a few. Together we've made foam rubber stamps for Christmas wrapping paper, animal masks from paper bags, silver foil beads, puppets,and masks.

My art and craft activity basket means I don't have to buy expensive toys for Brittany. And when she comes over to play, she knows exactly where the basket is and that I expect her to tidy up after she's done.

Teaching toddlers about recycling is as much fun for me as it is for them.

I didn't realize how many treasures I was inadvertently throwing away until Brittany came along. Now, I have a tendency to grab things out of people's hands as they head for the trash can, acting as though I've just won the lottery!

For example, plastic drink bottles make great musical instruments and you can paint them with brilliant colors. Plastic containers and boxes make good buildings or even more exciting, robots! Newspapers are good for papier-mache and elastic bands can be used for the strings on a shoe-box guitar.

When you get into recycling for art, the temptation to create artworks for yourself is ever so tempting! I made a great Christmas wreath out of pine cones and foil pie dishes. Not to mention making my own Christmas wrapping paper by using a stamp cut from a potato. I'm also now the proud owner of a T shirt I printed myself using leaves found in my garden.

But back to what makes toddlers and preschoolers happy! Imaging helping them make decorations and invitations for their own birthday party. Sure, working with glue and teaching them how to use craft scissors takes time, but at the end of the day, you're helping them develop an active imagination and they'll love you for it when they're older.

Here's a great idea for your toddler's next birthday party. We've made this a tradition in our family. Buy a small cotton bed sheet (or you may have a length of white cotton material left over from a sewing project). Buy some non-toxic fabric paint from an arts and craft shop plus a small foam roller.

Have everyone who attends the party, parents included, use the roller to add a mix of colors to one hand and press their hand onto the cloth. A felt pen can be used to add a message and name. What a wonderful keepsake! And don't forget to take photos of the event for the family album.

About the Author

Author Carolyn Morgan is a Mother of two and Grandmother of one (so far). As a practicing artist, Carolyn was determined to keep her little Grandchild amused without resorting to buying expensive toys. After much research, she found a number of activities and decided to build a website for parents and out-of-practice Grannies like her. You can see what she found at http://www.busytoddlers.com

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