Our family has endless fun with everyday items. I always save lots of recycling for projects and games. There is a cardboard banana box that I have in my garage to house such items. When it is full, I stop saving until more is needed. But, from the wonderful world of recycling many geography projects, timeline projects, and games have evolved.
If you are wondering what to save, let me give you a few ideas: toilet paper cardboard tubes, paper towel tubes, empty two liter bottles, old pickle jars and lids. Lots of lids because they can be creatively used for many things, cardboard boxes various sizes, and a few clean cans from soup or something.Wash everything and check for sharp edges before using. After you have a nice sized box of these recyclables the games begin. Here are a few to try:
Soup Can Bowling
Soup can bowling is going to be endless fun for your family. First, save 10 tin cans and wash them. To add more fun they can be spray painted to look different. Second, line them up in a bowling pin fashion, or just 2 lines of five. Finally, use a soft ball from the dollar tree. If you can find one that is not super bouncy that will help. The bouncy balls go all over the place.
After lining up the cans, each person will take a turn to hit as many cans down on their turn. Don’t set them, up until each person has went twice, just like bowling. If you like to keep score do so. We use sidewalk chalk on our back porch as a scorekeeper.
Cotton Ball Relay
The cotton ball relay does not require much in the way of materials. To play you will need enough two spoons and cotton balls. The first person on each team will scoop a cotton ball on the spoon, then walk it to the person waiting on the other side and place it in their bowl. I like to play this game with two bags of cotton balls. It takes longer and is more fun. When the cotton balls fill the bowl, that team wins. Use a really big bowl so that it takes longer.
Our number one rule is if you drop one you have to go back and start over. When your family plays you can definitely make your own rules.
Masking Tape Lava
Out of the many games we have played, this one is unique. We place masking tape or painters’ tape in different shapes and lines on our back porch.
Each team has to walk the lines without falling off. If you fall off into the lava your team is out. In our house of boys’ this game gets loud quickly. Also, they mean you are out if you fall off. It gets very serious to play this game.
In addition to staying on the lines, it is important to note that making the lines zig zagged or in a design helps the other’s to fall off.
Endless Fun with Cardboard
We have used cardboard for many projects, games, activities and presentations. Cardboard is my go to DIY material. There are so many uses for this product and it comes with every Amazon order. As I mentioned, I use it for games.
Over the years’ we have made houses, ships, play backgrounds, forts and other fun ways to play. Don’t limit yourself to anything. If you want a movie night, set up boxes and let the kids design them like a drive-in. Each box can be a car. Have little snacks and popcorn ready for the movie night.
Create endless fun with all of these frugal suggestions. If you stop spending money, you will soon see there is a whole world of fun free things to do.
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