How to Reuse Happy Meal Toys

A child's appetite for a Happy Meal often has more to do with the toy than the food. Sometimes we decide where to eat based on which restaurant has the better kids meal toy. After your child is bored with their kids meal toys do you throw them away? Do they clutter up the toy box? While most of these fast food souvenirs probably end up the trash, my family has found four other great ways to reuse them.

Christmas Ornaments

Looking for unique and inexpensive Christmas tree ornaments? How about a Christmas craft the children can handle? Turning Happy Meal toys into ornaments is easy, cheap, and fun.

Most Happy Meal toys will require nothing more than string or wire and glue. Parental supervision is always advised if using super glue. I would also recommend not using any of the plush toys if using on a tree with lights. Almost all of the other plastic figures and toys should work well.

My daughters have a pink Christmas tree in their room with many Happy Meal ornaments. The Disney toys and Madame Alexander dolls are their favorites from McDonald's. Each year, they will make a few of these ornaments as gifts for their friends.

Gift Wrapping

Happy Meal toys can often accent any gift wrapping paper. Attaching a toy to your name tag can make any plain paper more juvenile. You can also use these toys to give your well wrapped gift a more childish presentation.

Depending upon the toy, nothing more should be required than string or glue. You can embellish any plain package quickly and creatively. Since I do not have a son, I rarely have any boyish wrapping paper. If you have a solid wrapping paper just add any toy that isn't gender specific to your package. This will instantly enhance any present.

Balloon Weight

Heavier toys can be tied to the string of a balloon and used as an anchor or weight. If you are using helium filled balloons try tying or gluing them to a bulky Happy Meal toy. If the weight of one toy is not strong enough try tying a couple of them together.

These anchors or weights can easily accentuate any birthday party theme for free. Balloons with a toy attached can also make a great party favor.

Cake Decorations

Happy Meal toys can conveniently make any home made cake look like a store bought cake. You don't have to be a perfect cake decorator to make a cake look professional. Just by adding one toy and matching icing a plain white cake suddenly has a theme!

Why pay over $20 for a birthday cake when you can make it yourself for way less. You already have the decorations. Make sure to always wash and sanitize your child's Happy Meal toys before using on food.

Finding other uses for Happy Meal toys are a great way to show children first hand how to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Use your imagination and see what other uses you can find.

Sources: www.mcdclub.com