7 Kid-Friendly Repurposing Projects for the Holiday Season

Oh, how the holidays are so filled with happiness and hoorays. At least, that’s the case for the kids. They get to ride the wave from early November straight on through the crest and past New Year’s Day. It’s a wonderful thing.

That said, the experience isn’t the same for parents. Parents are fretting about payments. They are working hard to counter the time off. Parents worry about getting the right presents, and the stress builds and builds.

So, what can help with all of that? Take a trash can, mix it with some crafting, and invite the kids in for the whole thing. Kid-friendly repurposing projects for the holiday season can make everything so much easier and lighter.

It turns out a good holiday season isn’t all about getting the wish list right and complete. A lot of the yuletide spirit comes in the form of pure, stupid fun. Isn’t that a wonderful thought? What should we be doing then? What are these projects?

Plastic Spoon Snow(people)

Inevitably, for those who get takeaway food now and again, a collection of plastic spoons amasses in that rouge drawer or stuffed alongside the silverware tray. The holiday season is an ideal time to do something with them.

Use those plastic spoons to make a collection of snowpeople to represent the family or to simply decorate the flowerpots inside.

Plastic Bottle Penguins

Try as we might, avoiding plastic bottles is a ridiculous challenge in this modern life. They are everywhere, and a lot of times, getting a drink requires caving to that “no more plastic” pledge. At least, they can be used for something before being recycled.

There are a few ways to make a penguin from a plastic bottle, so get out there on the World Wide Web and find a method you like.

Cardboard Owls

Even if the owl trend has waned a little, owls are super cool and make for wonderful holiday decorations. Those adorable eyes sticking out from the Christmas tree or perched on the mantle melt hearts.

The secret with cardboard cut-out owls is to steer clear of the complicated. A plump body, some wings, big eyes—cut out pieces and make a cool owl to hide somewhere.

Tin Can Luminaries

Tin cans are one of the best materials for recycling, and they are also good for upcycling projects. A personal favorite is the tin can luminary. For parents, it’s a great way to introduce the drill to kids who have been interested in the tools.

The concept is basic. Put a simple, holiday-themed picture on a tin can. Drill holes along the line of said picture. Put a tea candle in the can. That’s a holiday luminary.

Jar Snow Globe

Glass over plastic is a responsible choice, and attempting to save those glass jars for some new purpose is even better for the planet. However, those of us who save glass jars often reach our limit. We can keep no more. They need new repurposing destinies.

Making a snow globe from an old glass jar and some retired ornaments or figurines is an awesome new fate for that jar collection. The kids can make them in abundance to give away as presents.

Old Wrapping Paper/Christmas Card Tags

Though old wrapping paper and used Christmas cards seem to have little to offer other than garbage can fodder, it turns out they are replete with holiday images and cheer that can be repurposed into new holiday fun.

The kids can cut out rectangles from the saved wrapping paper or cards to make unique gift tags that’ll delight grandparents and other fans of your kids.

Canning Lid Ornaments

One of the more frustrating things about attempting to live a more self-reliant and low-waste lifestyle is that sometimes trash still happens. One of the grand travesties of this situation is the lids of canning jars. They aren’t supposed to be reused. So, what do we do with them?

Well, when life gives us little perfect circles to play with, then the idea is that we don’t just toss them away. Canning lids are wonderful for making tree ornaments.

Christmas doesn’t have to be all about buying new things and creating new trash. It doesn’t have to be about spending big dollars and fulfilling every fantasy gift on the list. Lots of gifts can be repurposed from secondhand stuff, and lots of Christmas cheer can be gained from looking at the holiday with (re)new(ed) eyes.

Related Content:

• Ideas for Getting Kids in the Garden
• 5 Nature Crafts for Your Kids and You
• 8 DIY Projects for Your Garden and Yard Using Upcycled and Recycled Materials
• You Can Repurpose Old Tights, Stockings, and Pantyhose
• Funky Repurposing Projects for Pots and Pans

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!