Fun And Creative Activities That Teach Children About Recycling

This summer, Food For Thought By The Sea supported The Boys and Girls Club as the children painted the recycling bins along the Asbury Park Boardwalk. We’re all about recycling and so today we’re sharing 7 simple ways to explore recycling with your children or students. 

Make Recycling Bins Or a Bird Feeder 

There are so many projects you can take on with your child but building a bird feeder or making recycling bins out of recycled materials are just two of those projects. Birdhouses made out of sticks or used plastics, and recycling bins made from recyclable materials can be built and decorated fairly quickly making them ideal crafts for children.

Collect Litter On The Beach Or On School Grounds

Teaching kids about the best (and safest) ways to recycle, about how animals can be harmed by litter, and how they can make a difference can become an active-learning activity by making a field trip to your local park or beach to assist in clean-up efforts. Whether it’s a specific designated time that a local organization will be doing a clean up, or just something you decide to do as a class or family, this can be an important way to teach children just how much litter exists and what to do about it.

Read, Reuse, and Recycle 

You can share The Lorax other books about environment (You can find a list here) https://mommyevolution.com/childrens-books-recycling-study-unit-resources/

Many times the books you share might have companion activities and questions available online so you can hit home with major points when you discuss them with your children or students.

Make It a Race!

Once you’ve explained how recycling works (What kinds of things we can recycle and how it works) You can find a few different types of recyclables and setting bins up on the other side of the room or field (if you’re outside) set up a race for your child or children to see how many things they can place in the right bin in a certain amount of time.

You may want to have your students create the rules if you’re in a classroom setting and they can even create fun (and safe) obstacle courses on the way to the bins for an added challenge.

Make It Musical 

Creating fun recycling songs to help children learn about “reduce, reuse, recycle” and some fun ways to recycle can be a creative use of your class time.

If you’re looking for a way to take your musical stylings a step further, try making a recycled drum out of a can with lid (Maybe a coffee can or protein powder barrel) Place sand or just some other recycled odds and  ends in the can, secure the lid with tape and get drumming. Having children build and decorate their own drums, if age appropriate, is another awesome way to make recycling musical.

Pack Lunches In Recyclable Or Reusable Containers

Your child may be used to “zippy bags” but using tupperware or other eco-friendly options can be easier for them to open and close while also being far better for the environment. Plus, easier to close means less mess to clean up later.

When you make this switch, take a few minutes to explain to your child why your making the change and how it can help the environment to do just that!

Donate And Talk About It

Whether it’s that lamp from the living room or those sweaters you didn’t wear last winter, donating items you won’t be using is a great way to recycle and it’s also a great opportunity to teach children about recycling as well.

If you’re in a classroom, you may want to run a clothing drive to collect clothing and discuss how things go through the donation and reuse process.

If you’re at home, you may want to make a list of the items you hope to recycle. Then, when your child is home, go around the house to collect them, explaining why you’ll be donating it and how donating it will help someone else and the environment.

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