Crafting is a great way to deepen our connections with our children, whatever their age and nature has an abundance of ways of making this possible, without causing harm to the environment. We can also re-use and recycle packaging, to make fun or useful items to play with, or to store things in.
‘By introducing children to the concept of recycling through hands-on, creative play, we’re not only nurturing their imagination and problem-solving skills, but we’re also sowing the seeds of a lifelong commitment to a greener, more sustainable planet and use of the Earth’s natural resources.’ (MMB Magazine)
How to make eco-friendly art supplies
- Make homemade paints, using natural ingredients like beetroot, turmeric or coffee grounds. Paint can be applied using old sponges.
- Natural dyes can be made from plants, like onion skins or berries and can be used for colouring projects.
- Make home-made glue, using ingredients you’ve possibly already got at home, such as flour, sugar, vinegar and milk, or other items like cornstarch or gelatine. This handy article contains 5 different recipes for making glue.
- For eco-friendly glitter, you can find a variety of recipes here.
How to craft with sustainable materials
When purchasing craft supplies, opt for sustainable options, like wooden toys, natural fibre fabrics and beeswax crayons. These materials are eco-friendly and often biodegradable. Look around for stockists who have an eco-friendly policy.
What are the benefits of crafting outdoors?
- Reduced mess Many of us may like the idea of doing craft activities with our children, but the thought of the mess, or the risk of damage to our furniture or carpets, may put us off. That’s one of the great things about crafting outdoors with natural materials – we can all have fun together, without those risks. Any spillage of natural paints or dyes can be easily washed away, with no risk to the local wildlife from toxic chemicals. It’s still very wise to wear old clothes, or a painting shirt or apron, as natural materials can also stain clothing.
- Fresh air and Vitamin D Being out in the fresh air, in the sunshine, is beneficial for health and well-being.
- A great environment for family conversation Being around nature, can also feel instantly calming for many children and adults. This creates a great opportunity for more relaxed family conversations and communication, away from the distraction of screens and devices.
Ideas for outdoor family crafting activities
- Make some homemade paints together and choose a natural object, such as a tree, or a flower, for everyone to paint a picture of.
- Collect natural objects, such as sticks, leaves, pine cones and stones and use the ground as a canvas for creating a large, woodland scene picture, as a family.
- Make an insect hotel.
- Create a wreath or a mobile out of natural materials, to hang up indoors or outside.
How to craft using re-purposed and recycled materials
How many of us have watched our toddlers being more engrossed with the packaging their toy came in, than with the toy itself?
A very large cardboard box can be a shop, a house, a garage, a castle, a police station, a rocket, a toy car, a boat, a train engine, or a pirate ship! The list is endless! Our children love it when we engage in imaginative play with them and the fun starts with the creating. We can teach them about the value of recycling, while, at the same time, helping to develop their language skills and use of imagination. The role-play afterwards can be fun and educational too. For young children, learning through play is so valuable.
Empty plastic bottles and rice, can be used to create shakers. Drums can be made using plastic pots filled with water and the pitch can be varied by changing the amount of water used.
As children grow older, recycled items can be used to make their own models, jewellery and gifts for friends and family.
If you’d like more inspiration for eco-friendly, nature-based activities for families, you can sign up here to receive our free newsletters, which go out twice a month.
References
‘Fun recycling activities for kids of all ages’ MMB Magazine
https://mmbmagazine.co.uk/fun-recycling-activities-for-kids-of-all-ages/
‘How to Make Glue with Natural Ingredients’ CAGW, Finn, J, 2014
https://craftingagreenworld.com/articles/five-recipes-for-natural-glue
‘12 Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Glitter For A Green Sparkle’ Moral Fibres, Graham, W. Updated February 2024
https://moralfibres.co.uk/eco-friendly-alternatives-to-glitter
