Like most parents, I am always on the lookout for fun (and frugal) ways to keep the kids happily entertained. We put together an Invention Kit a couple of years ago, and it has been our go-to source for free craft and learning supplies ever since! To make your own, you will need to gather up some items — many of which you may already have on-hand. Below is a list of items to consider including in your kit, and the kids can help find these from around the house:
Suggested Items for Your Invention Kit
Milk Cartons
Cereal Boxes
Egg Cartons
Oatmeal Canisters
Mint Tins
Cardboard Tubes (Toilet Paper and/or Paper Towels)
Shoe Boxes
Cans and Jars
Yogurt Containers
Plastic Salad Containers
Newspapers and Magazines
Foam Trays
Plastic Netting from Produce Bags
Paper Bags
Place some or all of these items in a large cardboard box, and let the kids have fun decorating their Invention Kit. Whenever they are itching for something to do, bring out the kit and get creative!
An Invention Kit can be a great tool to promote the development of early creative problem solving skills, and it helps to instill the early habits of recycling! Pick an item from the kit and ask the kids how many different uses they can think of for that item. A cardboard tube could be used to build a marble run, made into a pretend telescope, or crafted into a tower for Rapunzel, for instance. An empty mint tin could store items for a small first-aid kit, or turned into a house for a set of small magnetic dolls. There are so many possibilities — and it’s FUN!
What do you do with your recycled items?
I’ve been meaning to put together something like this for my two little girls! I think stumbling across this post is definately a sign.
(sometimes I need a little push)
The kit is in a recycled box from printer paper, which is really sturdy. And once it is full, we do the “one in one out” thing. Everything else goes to the recycling bin, so it’s not adding lots of clutter to the house. We use our kit almost every day!!
I love the idea, I am curious – where do you keep this invention kit? One challenge that we have is limited space and “pack rat” tendencies of my 4 year old. Do you have any rules on “one in one out”?
With the weather we have been having in Chicago, this is a must with a 4 year old. Going to go start putting my together.
[...] visit me over at Stonyfield’s blog, where I did a fun guest post on showing how to create an Invention Kit! If you don’t already have an Invention Kit at your house, this is the perfect time of year [...]
Hi Jen! My youngest was about 18 months when I started some fun painting/crafty projects with her. Such a fun age!
For more ideas on how to use your Invention Kit, you can visit my blog, and here is the link for projects using recycled materials — something we do ALL the time!
http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/?s=recycling
Have fun!!!
thanks so much for the tips. my son is 17 months but i am a stay at home mom and sooner than later he will be ready to be crafty
do you know of any sites that you project ideas for such materials, as (although my grandmother owns a craft shop) i am not crafty at all 