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Trash to Toys DIY: 10 Educational Toys Made From Recycled Items

January 26, 2022 by Melissa Chapman 11 Comments

While Earth Day is a yearly reminder to consider our role in protecting the environment– in our house EVERY Day is Earth Day. And as parents we can make a positive impact on our kids ( and instill in them a love for their planet) by creating fun, educational toys from everyday items that may initially seem like trash, but can be repurposed into teaching tools aka similar to these DIY Educational Toys Made From Recycled Items!
Trash to Toys: 10 Recycled Educational Toys
“Children are natural learners, and often see educational opportunities that adults can miss,” says Richard Peterson, vice president of education for Kiddie Academy Child Care Learning Centers. “Anyone who’s given a child a new toy and then found him playing with the box can appreciate a child’s gift for creative play.”

Want to feed your child’s imagination, while helping the environment? Check out the following DIY Educational Toys Made From Recycled Items –10 ideas for creating recycled educational toys!
#1 Computer Keyboard:  An outdated keyboard is a perfect teaching toy, as it includes the entire alphabet to assist in early literacy exercises. Challenge your child to sing the ABC song while locating each letter on the keyboard.

Check out these awesome 10 INVENTIVE SHOEBOX CRAFTS at http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/10-INVENTIVE-SHOEBOX-CRAFTS
Check out these awesome 10 INVENTIVE SHOEBOX CRAFTS at
               http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/10-INVENTIVE-SHOEBOX-CRAFTS

#2 Shoebox to Mailbox: Children love getting mail.  Reinforce both reading and writing skills by creating a family mailbox from an old shoebox.  Encourage your child to write notes to family members, and leave notes for them as well.

maracas .. duck~tape, plastic bottle.. beans... sticks for handles... FUN picture courtesy michaels.com

#3 Water Bottle Instrument: Fill a clean, dry plastic water or soda bottle with rice, bells, beans or coins and shake them to hear a variety of new sounds.  Glue the top on to secure the contents.

#4 Junk Mail:  Instead of immediately sending your unwanted mail to the landfill, allow your child to play with the envelopes and letters.  She can pretend to be a postal carrier while getting additional exposure to printed words.

Glossy photos in magazines are perfect for creating collage art that provides fine motor skill practice with scissors and glue.photo courtesy of  Magazine Strip Silhouette Wall art

#5 Magazines:  Glossy photos in magazines are perfect for creating collage art that provides fine motor skill practice with scissors and glue.

#6 TV remote: Children love pushing buttons.  An unused television remote control can be used for number and math play. Simply remove the batteries and ask him to find the numbers as you call them out.

#7 Clothing:  Dramatic play is an essential teaching tool that allows children to explore social roles, practice problem solving and language skills.  Add no longer needed pieces of your own wardrobe to the toy chest to encourage your child’s imagination.  She can literally try on a different role by wearing your skirt, hat or shoes.

#8 Linens:  Your child can use a worn out sheet or towel as a cape, picnic blanket or as the roof to a play fort.

#9 Toilet Paper Tube:  Empty TP tubes are a favorite art tool in classrooms. Save a box of them, and give them to your child along with a few craft supplies to see what he can create.  Binoculars, stamps and creatures are popular choices.

#10 Boxes:  While it’s tempting to immediately recycle a box, your child can have hours of fun using an empty box for creative play.  What seems like trash to you could become a school bus, secret hideout or magic castle.

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Filed Under: Featured, Kid Gear Tagged With: recycled educational toys, tips to turn your trash into treasures, Trash to Toys

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Comments

  1. knad12 says

    March 4, 2026 at 10:38 am

    I love how this post shows that learning doesn’t have to be expensive—simple recycled materials can spark real creativity at home. For many families, though, continuing education also depends on financial support. In Madhya Pradesh, students from SC, ST, and OBC communities can apply for assistance through the MPTAAS portal. I recently found a clear step-by-step guide on registration and status tracking here https://mptaasscholarships.com/ it’s helpful for parents planning ahead for higher studies.

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  3. Meera Paul says

    April 20, 2026 at 5:10 am

    This is such a creative and meaningful way to teach kids about sustainability while boosting their imagination. Turning everyday “waste” into learning tools not only helps the environment but also builds important skills in a fun way. In a similar spirit, keeping an updated mptaas online ensures students can access the right educational benefits and opportunities—both are great examples of making the most out of available resources for a better future.

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