ACTIVITIES

15 easy junk modelling ideas for kids

Last modified on Wednesday 17 November 2021

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Recycling toilet rolls and egg boxes is a great – and cheap – way to do some easy crafts with your kids. Here are some simple junk modelling ideas that your children will love.

What is junk modelling?

Junk modelling simply means creating arts and crafts projects from the rubbish lying around your home.

From loo rolls, egg cartons and cardboard boxes, to old CDs, clothes and books – anything you were going to throw away is fair game for a junk modelling makeover!

What are the benefits of junk modelling?

Crafting isn't just a great way to keep the kids occupied – it also nurtures their creative side, helping them learn new ways of thinking and improving hand-eye coordination. Oh, and did we mention it's brilliant fun, too?

Just thinking of different ways to use the objects helps kids learn to think about their environment in new ways. And playing with different materials to see what they can do is a great grounding in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) skills.

Kids will also get a great sense of achievement from seeing their finished creations. Be sure to give them plenty of praise, even if it just looks like a bunch of junk with a few blobs of paint!

If you don't have much space (or would just prefer not to have your home covered in toddler 'art'), at least keep each creation for a little while to show that you value it, and take a picture before getting rid of it altogether.

Traditional arts and crafts can be very expensive (we can't be the only ones who never dreamed we'd spend this much on felt?!). Junk modelling lets your kids get crafty with minimal expense.

It's good for the planet, too! Instead of contributing to landfill, old odds and ends can get a new lease of life as artistic creations.

More junk modelling ideas

As if the above weren't inspo enough, why not try letting your kids' imaginations run wild? The following common rubbish items work brilliantly for crafting:

  • toilet rolls
  • egg cartons
  • cardboard boxes
  • plastic bottles
  • glass jars
  • yoghurt pots
  • bubble wrap
  • newspapers and magazines
  • old clothes
  • rubber bands
  • shells and pebbles
  • leaves and twigs
  • cans and tins
  • CDs and DVDs
  • books
  • recyclable straws

You don't always have to have an end goal in mind. Just empty the recycling out, provide some tape, glue, paints and biodegradable glitter, and let your kids rummage around and see what they come up with. This is known as 'non-directed play', and is great for developing your child's independence.

From epic castles to sci-fi rockets and cute animals, you'll be amazed by what their imaginations can create!

Try these quick and easy craft ideas to turn old boxes and cartons into mini masterpieces.

Have you got any kids craft ideas that are cheap to make? Why not join the chat in our forum. Or get more inspo from our articles below.

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