Craft & Create – A Box of Recycled Supplies

As settings are being more eco-conscious, as well as managing reduced budgets, we need to look for alternative ways to set up and maintain a supply of free resources.  One way of doing this is to set up a recycle and reuse scheme for parents and carers.  Encourage them to save items they might usually consider throwing away, ready to use in the setting. 

Some items you might consider suggesting include:

• Magazines
• Catalogues
• Cardboard boxes
• Fabric
• Food packaging
• Plastic bottles
• Old clothes
• Jewellery
• CDs or old records
• Buttons
• Bottle tops
• Corks
  
  

There are also seasonal items you could ask parents and carers for, such as:

• Leaves
• Conkers
• Sticks
• Flowers
• Seeds
• Wrapping paper
• Gift cards
  
  

It’s important to consider the safety implications when asking for and receiving donations, especially as they will be used by children.  For instance, ensure all items are clean and hygienic before use.  It’s helpful to ask those donating items to ensure they are washed thoroughly before being passed to the setting.  Items should be risk assessed before use, looking carefully for hazards such as loose parts which may come off, posing a choking hazard, sharp edges, staples, or broken parts. In these times whilst we are living with COVID, it’s vital that we work to reduce the risk of transmission, therefore all items should be quarantined before children access them.

Benefits to play and learning

Setting up a craft and create box offers up a whole world of opportunities for children’s play and development in the Early Years and beyond.  It’s likely the children will have their own ideas on how to use the resources, and it’s important to tune into this.  As educators, we can facilitate the play by making available complimentary resources such as joining materials, paper, pens and scissors. You might see junk modelling, collages, den building, construction, role play, instruments or large scale mark making.  However, it’s not just about what the children are creating, it’s how.  In supporting this idea of process over product, we are recognising the learning that can evolve through thinking, problem-solving, creating, planning, designing and exploring.  We understand that our aim is to cultivate and nourish these learning opportunities, rather than just valuing the finished creation.

Some of the benefits to play and learning through the development of a craft and create box include….

• The open-ended nature of the play which enables children to take risks, experiment, learn through trial and error and not be afraid to make mistakes.  This type of play has no wrong or right.
• This play can be freely explored, indoors or outdoors.  It fires a child’s natural drive to be curious and explore, inviting them to have a go and investigate.  Children have time and space to be deeply engaged, taking things apart, putting them back together, investigating ways of doing things, stacking, grouping, carrying and transporting.
• Imaginative play can flourish during activities where children have the freedom to express themselves as they wish.  Without barriers to their play, children can use the resources as they choose, developing a sense of ownership.
• Developing a sense of concepts such as size, shape and textures.
• Practising social skills whilst involved in group play, such as cooperation, turn-taking, sharing, tolerance, respect, patience and perseverance.
• Developing fine and gross motor skills.
• Learning about the properties of materials, such as soft, hard, rigid, flexible, smooth etc and understanding how materials can be combined.
  
  

Involving parents and carers

Rather than just asking for donations from parents and carers, it’s a good idea to explain your reasons behind wanting to set up a craft and create box.  Share your rationale, giving examples of what you hope to achieve, such as play and learning skills.  This could help foster engagement as parents and carers understand the impact of their contribution.

Settings could think about providing regular updates so parents and carers can be inspired to try some of the activities at home.  Think about including a feature on your newsletter, uploading Tapestry updates, social media posts or a photo board.  Showcase the children’s creations, perhaps even holding a craft and create gallery event once COVID restrictions begin to be lifted.

A drop off point for the resources makes it easier and efficient both for the setting and parents and carers.  Consider using bins or baskets with clear labels.  Creating a wish list is a good way of working towards getting the items you’d most like.  Perhaps create a post-it note board where parents and carers can easily see what the setting needs.

Documenting your experiences

A craft and create box can be such a valuable addition to the setting that it’s a good idea to document your progress.  Take lots of photos, make observations and involve the children in deciding how you want the experiences to evolve.  You could think about creating a floor book which charts your progress from your early days with the project so you can reflect on how your practice has developed.  This will be something valuable to look back on as a staff team but also with the children.