Recently on Playfest we had a session on Junk Modelling. It’s not something we do all the time but the children always really enjoy it and it gave me a push to let them do it a bit more often.

We were joined by the lovely Maggy Woodly from Red Ted Art, who came to share some of her ideas with us and give us some inspiration. A week or so before that I won her new book on twitter, which I was very happy about and as you can see so was my little boy!

I have to say, none of our projects turn out looking as good as they do in the book! I’m just telling myself it’s more about the “process” and the kids enjoyment, rather than the finished results. We will keep trying!

Here’s some pics of my boys in action, creating some “masterpieces” out of our junk packaging!

Here we have a space themed rattle/shaker made by my 4 year old out of a giant lolipop packet, filled with some pulses, decorated with paint and sparkles, and fixed together with decorative star tape – tada!!

This is our rocket. It’s made out of an old chocolate milk container, covered in tissue paper and foil and painted. This is still up on the shelf in their playroom, 4yr old is very proud of it!

I think this one was a boat 🙂

More junk modelling play, with the younger 2 they were just really exploring the materials rather than having a project in mind.

Here’s some ideas of materials you can put aside to use

Any form of cardboard, cereal boxes, packaging, shoe boxes. Really big boxes can be used to make giant models which can be played in

Any form of tubes – kitchen rolls, toilet rolls

Bubble wrap

Foil sweet wrappers, or tin foil

Plastic bottles, drinks bottles, fairy liquid etc

Egg Cartons

Bottle tops

Tubs from butter or yoghurts

Bits of felt

Junk play is good for hand eye coordination, fine motor skills – using skills like cutting with scissors, gluing and painting – and of course for developing the imagination. Their creations have the potential to become anything they wish! I love seeing the sense of pride and achievement in what they have made.

What could you make?

A ship

A rocket

A car garage

A puppet theatre

Animals

A robot

A house

A market stall

A castle (check out this one from Hodge Podge Craft)

The list goes on and on!

If you are interested in tools for junk modelling on a bigger or more advanced scale, have a look at my Makedo post here

You may also be interested in Loose Parts Play

Pin the ideas to come back to?

What are your child’s favourite ideas for Junk Modelling? Let me know in the comments!

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