Egg and Milk Cartons as Toys

Cut egg cartons into individual cups and make them look like flowers. Use a pipe cleaner as a stem. The children can also make puppets out of egg cartons and pipe cleaners.

Milk cartons can be transformed into great building blocks or a train. To make the blocks, simply cut the top off two cartons and push them together. The blocks can be covered with contact paper.

To make a train, cut the top off of the carton and cover with contact paper. For wheels, glue four egg carton cups on the bottom of each “car” of the train. The cars can be connected with string or yarn.

Make a Necklace

Empty thread spools that are painted different colours can make a safe necklace for younger children. They can even help you make the necklace. Take the spools and string them together with a soft string or shoelace. The younger children will enjoy helping you do this.

Colored Sand Art

Take dry sand from the sand box and put a handful into several small containers. Add some food coloring into each container and mix together until the sand is colored. Give the children some paper and glue. Have them make patterns with the glue to make a design. When they are finished, let them sprinkle the glue with the colored sand.

A Model

Older children can discuss with the younger children the model of the child care, school building, outside play area, the neighborhood, or community. Use “play dough” to let the children make buildings. After the buildings have dried, they can be painted or food coloring can be added to the “play dough” before making the models. Cardboard boxes, milk cartons, paper models, wood, and other creative materials can be used and painted instead of play dough.

Make a Musical Instrument

A musical instrument can easily be made with two small paper plates and beans. Place the beans on one plate. Cover with the other plate. Tape, glue, or staple the plates together. Encourage the child to play the instrument to music. (Due to choking hazards, this activity is not intended for children under three years of age.)

Have a Telephone Conversation

A homemade telephone can help younger children build their vocabulary skills and also be a lot of fun. The phone can be made of Polystyrene Foam, cardboard, or plastic cups. The phone line should have two “receivers.” Punch a small hole in the bottom of each cup, and push the ends of a 15 to 20 foot string through the holes. Tie a large knot at each end of the string. The children can stretch out the string and begin their conversation.

Finger Puppets

What you need: paper and material tape or glue creative materials What you do: Children can draw different characters on paper or fabric and cut them out. By taping or gluing a ring on the back of each character the children can slip the character on their fingers and use them to tell a story. How about using this idea with a favorite finger play? Another way to make a finger puppet is to use a simple pattern that can be glued or sewed together. The face can be drawn or colored. Children can use yarn, string, or other creative materials for the face, hair, clothes, and other features.

Make a Sandwich Filling

When a young child prepares a simple sandwich filling, he learns to: Plan ahead and organize, Measure ingredients See different forms of food Make something good, Clean up after himself. Filling: 1/2 cup drained, flaked tuna OR 3 hard-cooked eggs, 2 tbsp. mayonnaise chopped olives, celery, or pickles (optional), salt and pepper, Children can peel eggs, chop ingredients with a blunt knife, mix them together, and spread on bread to make a sandwich. Encourage them to clean up when done.