Learn to Recycle-Recycle to Learn

By C.J. Schomberg

We all know how important it is to our environment to recycle. Recycled items also can be used to make learning toys for the young child. Listed below are a few possible toys you could create.

Chips in a Can – Use an oatmeal container or similar recyclable (not glass) that comes with a plastic lid. Cut a slit in the lid approximately 3 ½ inches in length and ½ to 1 inch in width. Collect round edged metal lids from frozen juice containers for the child to put in the container’s slit lid. This activity is excellent for developing the pincer grasp and eye-hand coordination in children approximately 14 months old and older. To make the activity more difficult, shorten the length and width of the lid’s slit and substitute poker chips or milk jug lids. Always supervise when using smaller items due to the potential choking hazard.

I Spy Bottle – Use an empty 20-ounce clear plastic bottle with lid. Fill the bottle with table salt approximately 2/3 full. Add any colorful or interesting items. Examples are buttons, pennies, crayons, Barbie shoes, rocks, feathers, paper pieces, colored foam noodles, uncooked noodles, etc. After you fill your bottle, put the lid on securely and use duct tape to cover the lid. The bottle can help develop eye-hand coordination as the child turns the bottle to find objects; can help develop vocabulary depending on objects added; and can be used as a rhythm instrument for shaking if not too full. This activity is best used with children approximately 22 months and older.

Counting Stick – Use two cardboard tubes from wrapping paper and two toilet paper tubes. Cut one wrapping tube into 10 or 20 even rings, depending on how high you want the child to count. Cover the intact tubes and the individual cardboard rings with different colors of glued-on paper or contact paper (use wrapping paper scraps or solid colored paper to reinforce learning colors). Next cut and tape circles the size of your wrapping tube’s end on one side of each toilet tube. Slide the rings onto your long wrapping tube and stick the toilet tubes on either end of the long wrapping tube to prevent the rings from sliding off. Duct tape the point where the wrapping tube sticks into the toilet tube to prevent it from popping off. Last, using a permanent marker, write a + sign on the left toilet tube and a - sign on the right toilet tube. Now your preschooler will have a stick for counting, adding, and taking away. This is great for playing store.

Whatever activity you choose, keep in mind the child’s age and abilities and remember safety as you choose recyclable materials. Use materials you already have at home or purchase items only when you know you will use them again. Then have some family fun!