Kids Craft: Make a Coffee Can Bank

Here is a craft for kids that does double-duty: it is a craft that is fun to do, and it also encourages your children to save for a rainy day. This is a great craft for young children, but older children may also enjoy doing this craft as well, they may just be saving for bigger toys!

For this craft you will need:

a coffee can with a lid (the larger the coffee can, the better)

colored construction paper

markers or crayons

stickers

glitter pen (optional)

ribbon (optional)

tape

pencil

scissors

Begin by taking a pencil and measuring the size of the coffee can on the construction paper that you would like to use as the background on the coffee can. Cut the paper with scissors, or have an adult cut the paper with scissors if the child is not old enough for scissor work.

The fun thing about making a coffee can bank is that every child's version of what a coffee can bank looks like is going to be different. One child is going to make one that is purple with lots of flowers on it. Another child is going to make one with a blue background and a shiny yellow sun. Yet another child is going to put a picture of their dog on the coffee can. The most important thing is that the child have fun decorating the coffee can in the way that they like the best. Use their favorite colors and images of their favorite things. Some children may think to draw pictures of the objects they are hoping to save for. Others may just draw images of things that they really like. Another great idea is to be sure to put the child's name on it - to really personalize the coffee can bank.

Once the child has selected the decoration for the coffee can, tape the decoration onto the coffee can. Make rolls of tape, or use double sided tape to attach it onto the can. Glue is very hard to use on a metal coffee can.

Next have an adult cut a hole in the top of the lid that is a slit the size of a large coin (but also large enough for bills) to make the coffee can an official bank for the child. Help the child find a good place in their room to keep their new bank. That's it!