A couple of weeks ago, a few friends and I got together for a Green Toys Party when we turned items destined for the trash into fun toys for our young kids.
Here’s the instructions for many of the toys we made.
Recycled Crayons
Materials:
old crayons, paper removed, broken into pieces
cooking spray or foil baking cups
muffin tin
Instructions:
1. Spray cooking spray into muffin tins or line tins with foil liners.
2. Put broken crayon pieces into muffin tin.
3. Melt crayons in a 150 degree oven for at least 15 minutes.
4. Once melted, remove from oven and allow to cool.
5. Pop crayons out of tin.
Suggested age: 16-36+ months
This kids loved coloring with their new crayons.
Music Shakers/Shaker Bottle
Materials:
small plastic juice bottle
hot glue gun
beans, bells, rice or buttons
curling ribbon, pom poms, glitter
tape
stickers
Instructions:
1. Pour beans, rice, bells or buttons into bottle.
2. Seal bottle by gluing lid on and adding tape to the outside for extra security.
3. Optional: decorate the outside of the bottle with colored tape or stickers.
Suggested age: 6-18+ months
We combined two Parents as Teachers crafts into one for this toy. For a baby, encourage her to explore the shaker by shaking or banging it on the floor or high chair tray. For a toddler, include your child in making the music shaker. Show him how to make a rhythmic beat. Sing familiar songs together and shake the instrument to the beat of the song.
Roly-Poly Books
Materials:
oatmeal container or any other round container
pictures from magazines
clear contact paper
Instructions:
1. Cut out pictures of faces, animals or objects.
2. Glue the pictures on the container.
3. Cover with contact paper.
4. Optional: put buttons, bells etc. inside container and glue the lid down.
Show the finished book to your baby. Point at the different pictures and name them. Roll the book and continue to talk about the pictures. Reminder: never leave your baby unattended with this toy.
Suggested age: 4-10 months
All these ideas came from the Parents as Teachers Earth Day celebration I attended back in April. They had so many great ideas of homemade, recycled toys we didn’t have time to make them all.
And then, sometimes, you have to break all the rules and just go a little crazy with the leftover craft supplies like my friend, Debbie, did. 
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