A new trend in schools and homes is green crafts. This means that kids make crafts using recyclable materials or things that would otherwise be thrown away. These green crafts are booming since:
They help the environment
They teach kids to reuse, recycle, and make something new and different
They are inexpensive
They let children use their own creativity and imagination
Green crafts are also great for schools, since the cost is so low, and there are usually many items that would otherwise get thrown in the garbage.
Plastic Toy Boxes
There are so many projects kids can make: costumes, gift boxes, gift tags, treasure boxes, ornaments, puppets, notebook covers, locker decorations, decorative picks, centerpieces, piggy banks, photo boxes, etc
One thing I love to reuse for crafts is wrapping paper. At Christmas or birthdays, take the used wrapping paper and roll or fold it for future craft use. You can use it to cover plastic containers or glass jars to make keepsake holders; cover an old photo frame with a wrapping paper decoupage; or cut out designs to glue on other items.
Keep newsprint, or the paper that breakable items come wrapped in, for crafts. Plain newsprint can be used to make your own wrapping paper by decorating it with stampers, markers, cut outs from old wrapping paper or printed cardboard boxes, old magazine pictures, your own art work, etc. Old newspapers are always good for protecting tables and surfaces from paint and glue when kids are making their crafts. Old newspaper can also be shredded and used for stuffing in puppets and dolls.
Some extra items, like glue, markers and paint, may be needed to complete the crafts. You can supplement your supplies by taking some products from nature like: pine cones, wood sticks or twigs, stones, sand, leaves, etc.
It is never to early to teach kids how to go green. With fun activities like green crafts, they will be motivated to do more.