Cool Crafts with Pop Cans for Kids

The average American drinks about two cans of soda every day. That's a lot of aluminium that must (hopefully) run through the recycling plants. Instead of simply recycling, why not put those cylinders to good use by making crafts with the kids? By re-purposing items, you can help show how every little bit counts when saving the environment and help your child practice their fine motor skills.

Here are some interesting ways to reuse those pop cans:

Snazzy Shingle Bands: Break off the tabs on pop cans and cover them with different colored paints and glitter. Then, let your child help string the colorful shingles on a length of gimp before tying off the end. These are great fun for children to trade with each other and make for a distinctive and personalised fashion statement.

Writing Buddy: Fill an empty can 1/4 of the way with sand and then seal off the hole with a cork or some tape. Then cover it with some construction paper before attaching two "arms" made of bent pipe-cleaners. Let your child decorate their Buddy with crayons, construction paper, and googly eyes. In the end, their Buddy will help keep their papers from flying about on a desk, while grasping a pencil and pen for easy use.

Sizzling Shaker: Put an assortment of beads, beans, and rice in an empty can before sealing off the hole with some tape. Decorate the can with pieces of construction paper before letting children try their hand at making some music. Teach the kids about music and sound by letting them try different combinations of filler, while showing them how to play along with an upbeat music track.

Sloshing-shaking Dumb-bell: Fill two cans partly with water before attaching them to both ends of a wooden craft log. Use duct tape to seal off any openings and let the kids decorate their dumb-bells with construction paper. The weight and sloshing of the water in the cans help develop bicep muscles gently, while also improving wrist and hand coordination.

These are just some examples to help you get started. An ordinary object can be turned into hours of craft fun by just letting children use their imaginations. So, what are you and yours waiting for? Grab a can or two and let minds roam!