Recycling Fun for Kids | Family Economics

By Cathe Holden

Unlike in my own childhood, our kids have always known recycling as a committed family practice - for a better community, a healthier planet, and that it is our responsibility to future generations. In our home, every bottle, can, box and newspaper has its own marked bin in the garage. Here are some ideas to make recycling less of a chore and more fun for your children:

*Add backboards made of repurposed cardboard to your open recycling bins in the garage. Clearly mark each backboard with a picture or words representing the bins contents and let your kids toss the recyclables from the kitchen door to the bins for points.

*If you own your own bins, have your kids decorate them with drawings, magazine cutouts and stickers and label the bin’s contents boldly.

*Before transferring items into larger bins for the recycle center, ask the kids to guess how many cans or bottles are in each bin.

*Before sending an item off for recycling, suggest an alternative use for that item; a magazine shelf organizer from a cereal box wrapped with pretty paper; a pencil cup made from a can. Whether you choose to make something or not, it exercises the brain to think outside the box!

*When tossing items out for recycling, ask your child to speculate on the items next life. Will that ketchup bottle become a grocery bag or fabric for a new fleece jacket? Will the soup can become a lawn chair? Will the shoebox become a cracker box?

Recycling really can be fun!