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Make sure any recycled items are clean and safe for your child to enjoy!
Egg boxes
Cardboard boxes of all shapes and sizes
Clean jars and pots, especially ones with lids
Junk mail with interesting pictures or colours
Cardboard tubes from kitchen rolls, etcetera
Used wrapping paper, and cards
Old notebooks, diaries, and calendars
Trays or containers with deep sides for water play/messy play and paint – metal or plastic are best as they are strong and can be easily washed!
Cups and jugs of different sizes
Cupcake or muffin trays
Saucepans and sieves
Lots of utensils – spoons, spatulas, whisk, tongs …
Masking tapes
Clothes pegs
Paint brushes in a variety of sizes, including large ones
Large bits of fabric – sheets, blankets, scarves
A shower curtain – this makes a good protective floor surface
Flour (we have some play dough recipes here)
Cornflour
Food colouring (If you want to avoid using food colouring to colour playdough or water there are lots of natural alternatives. You could experiment with teabags, herbal teas or vegetables, but a simple option is to buy powdered fruit and vegetables from a health food shop.)
Flower petals – either from bunches of flowers or from around the garden or park. You can use this right away or dry them in a patch of sunshine (in the summer) to use over time.
Leaves, twigs, sticks and pinecones
Stones and pebbles
Check anything in your play kit is safe, avoid small items for younger children or babies and always supervise your children when playing with objects.