When children are bored, there is nothing like contents of a recycling bin to quickly stir up some fun easy projects!

…Or some elaborate ones. It depends on how carried away you get.

Just today, my husband and son spent their evening, pretending that a cardboard box was first a chariot (with Dad as a horse), then a boat (Anselm drew the flag). That was simple! But then a few months ago, they spent several hours, turning a different cardboard box into a pretty detailed SOYUZ space capsule. My husband later admitted he went a little bit over the top on that one.

Anyway, the idea behind all the projects here is that you can make toys from junk. It will cost nothing and often teach kids some basics of engineering.

TOYS FROM FOOD CONTAINERS

Make a Castle from Recyclable Materials

Magnetic Alien Robots from Cans

Miniature Pies from Bottle Caps and Polymer Clay

Make a Bottle Rocket

Rocket Jet Pack from Bottles

Dump Truck Softie with Bottle Cap Wheels

Rainbow Sensory Bottles

Bottle Top Bird Puppet

Bottle Cap Rattle Snake

Treasure Magnets from Bottle Caps

Sorting Box from Lids and Cardboard Box

Ringer Game in a Bottle

 

TOYS FROM CARDBOARD & PAPER

Cardboard Doll House

Paper Plate Magnet Maze

Cardboard Pull Toys

Cardboard Marble Maze

Jigsaw Puzzle from a Book Dust Jacket

Cardboard Mailbox

Puppet Theatre in a Cardboard Box

School House in a Box

Cardboard Spaceship

Cardboard Box Dinosaur

Cardboard Camera

TOYS FROM OLD FURNITURE

Play Kitchen from an Old Shelf

Mater the Tow Truck from an Old Lawn Chair

Swing from a Chair

Play House from Old Doors

Workbench from an Old Shelf

RECYCLABLE TOYS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Christmas Village from Cereal Boxes

Gingerbread House Village from Milk Cartons

Bottle Cap Rudolf

Bottle Caps Holly Wreath

Bottle Cap Ornaments

Bottle Cap Snowflake

Recycled Tin Lanterns

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