Looking for a fun and eco-friendly way to get creative? Try upcycling old household items into DIY games! It’s a great way to cut down on waste while keeping both kids and adults entertained. With a little imagination, things like cardboard and bottle caps can turn into awesome games. Whether it’s for a family game night or a classroom activity, these ideas are easy, budget-friendly, and super fun. Here are 20 awesome games you can create using recycled materials!
Bottle Cap Tic-Tac-Toe
Turn used bottle caps into a classic tic-tac-toe game. Gather ten caps and paint five in one color and five in another. Use a piece of cardboard or an old wooden board to draw a tic-tac-toe grid. Players take turns placing their caps on the board, aiming to form a row of three. This game is great for all ages and helps improve strategic thinking. To add a twist, try different shapes or themes for the bottle caps. You can even use stickers or markers to decorate them. Store the caps and board in a small box for an easy-to-carry travel game. It’s a simple yet engaging way to recycle and have fun.
Cardboard Marble Maze
Transform an old shoebox lid into an exciting marble maze. Cut and glue strips of cardboard to create a maze pattern inside the lid. Use markers or paint to decorate the maze for added creativity. Players tilt the lid to navigate a marble from start to finish. This game enhances hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. Experiment with different maze designs to increase the difficulty level. Add obstacles like small ramps or tunnels for extra challenges. You can also time players to see who finishes the maze the fastest. It’s an endlessly entertaining project that recycles materials into hours of fun.
Sock Bean Bag Toss
Got old socks lying around? Turn them into bean bags for a fun tossing game. Fill the socks with rice, beans, or lentils, then tie or sew the open end shut. Set up targets using cardboard boxes or paper plates with point values written on them. Players take turns tossing the bean bags into the targets, earning points based on accuracy. This game is fantastic for developing motor skills and hand-eye coordination. You can even create different difficulty levels by adjusting the distance. Decorate the targets with bright colors or themes to make them more exciting. Perfect for both indoor and outdoor play, this game repurposes old socks into endless entertainment.
Plastic Bottle Bowling
Make a mini bowling alley using empty plastic bottles. Gather ten bottles and fill them with a little water or sand to keep them stable. Line them up in a traditional bowling pin formation on a flat surface. Use a lightweight ball, like a small rubber ball, to knock them down. Players take turns rolling the ball and keeping score just like in real bowling. You can decorate the bottles with stickers or paint to add a fun theme. Adjust the difficulty by increasing or decreasing the bottle weight. This game is perfect for parties and can be played indoors or outdoors. It’s a fantastic way to repurpose plastic waste into an engaging activity.
Egg Carton Mancala
Turn an empty egg carton into a homemade version of Mancala. Clean and dry a 12-slot egg carton, then gather small items like buttons or beans as playing pieces. The game follows the classic Mancala rules, where players move pieces around the slots to collect the most. Decorate the egg carton to make it visually appealing. This game teaches counting, strategy, and planning. Use different colored playing pieces to make it even more fun. If you don’t have an egg carton, an ice cube tray works as well. It’s a brilliant way to give new life to recyclables while enjoying a centuries-old game.
Newspaper Fort Building
Encourage creativity with a fort-building challenge using old newspapers. Roll newspapers into tight tubes and secure them with tape to create sturdy building rods. Connect the rods using tape or string to form different structures like towers, houses, or tunnels. This game fosters teamwork and problem-solving skills. Challenge players to build the tallest or most creative structure. If the fort collapses, simply rebuild with stronger connections. Add blankets or fabric for a cozy hideaway. This is a perfect indoor activity for rainy days, offering hours of imaginative play with recyclable materials.
Shoebox Foosball
Make a mini foosball table using a shoebox and wooden skewers. Cut holes in the sides of the box for the skewers, which act as the game rods. Attach bottle caps or clothespins as player figures, securing them to the skewers. Use a small ball, like a ping pong ball, as the soccer ball. Players twist and move the skewers to kick the ball and score goals. Decorate the shoebox to look like a real soccer field. You can adjust the difficulty by changing the size of the box or the number of players. This game is a great way to reuse a shoebox while fostering hand-eye coordination.
Recycled Ring Toss
Craft a ring toss game using old paper towel rolls and plastic lids. Cut out rings from sturdy cardboard or use plastic lids with the centers removed. Stand up the paper towel roll as the target and take turns tossing the rings onto it. Assign different point values for rings landing on various targets. This game improves hand-eye coordination and precision. You can decorate the rings and target with bright colors for added appeal. Set up multiple targets to increase the challenge. It’s a fantastic way to repurpose everyday waste into an engaging game.
Puzzle from Old Magazines
Turn old magazines into customized puzzles for a fun and educational game. Start by selecting colorful pages with interesting images and glue them onto sturdy cardboard. Once dry, cut the cardboard into various shapes to form puzzle pieces. The complexity of the puzzle can be adjusted by making larger or smaller pieces. This activity helps improve problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and patience. Kids and adults alike will enjoy reassembling their unique puzzle creations. You can store the pieces in a small box or envelope for easy organization. To make it even more challenging, mix pieces from multiple puzzles together. It’s a fantastic way to reuse magazines while encouraging creativity and critical thinking.
Cereal Box Mini Golf
Create a mini-golf course using empty cereal boxes as obstacles. Cut openings in the boxes to serve as holes for the golf course. Use a small ball and a homemade putter crafted from a cardboard tube or an old ruler. Players take turns hitting the ball, trying to complete the course in the fewest strokes possible. Arrange the boxes in different ways to create new challenges each time. You can decorate the course with paint, stickers, or paper cutouts for extra fun. Adjust the difficulty level by making the holes smaller or using different-sized balls. This game encourages creativity, patience, and precision while repurposing everyday materials into an exciting activity. It’s a fun indoor game that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike, making it a perfect eco-friendly alternative to traditional mini-golf.
Bottle Cap Memory Game
Create a memory game using old bottle caps by decorating them with matching images or stickers. Start by collecting an even number of bottle caps and attaching identical images or colors in pairs. Shuffle the caps and lay them face down, then take turns flipping two at a time to find matching pairs. If a match is found, the player keeps the caps and takes another turn; if not, they are flipped back over. This game improves memory, concentration, and visual recognition skills. Adjust the difficulty by increasing the number of pairs. Store the caps in a small container for easy transport and reuse. The game can be customized with educational themes like letters, numbers, or animals. It’s a fun and eco-friendly way to repurpose bottle caps into a mentally stimulating activity.
Toilet Paper Roll Bowling
Turn empty toilet paper rolls into a fun and simple bowling game. Arrange ten rolls in a traditional bowling triangle formation on a smooth surface. Use a small ball, such as a tennis ball, to roll and knock down the pins. Players take turns rolling the ball and keeping track of their scores. For added fun, decorate the toilet paper rolls to resemble real bowling pins. You can adjust the difficulty level by placing the pins closer together or further apart. This game is perfect for young children and helps improve hand-eye coordination. It’s a creative way to recycle everyday household items into an entertaining activity for all ages.
Tin Can Stilts
Poke holes in two empty tin cans and thread strong string or rope through them to create handles. The player places their feet on top of the cans, holding onto the strings for balance. By pulling up on the strings and stepping forward carefully, they can walk on stilts. This game helps develop balance and coordination while also being a fun challenge. To make it more exciting, players can race each other or navigate obstacle courses. Decorating the cans with paint or stickers adds a creative touch. The height of the stilts can be adjusted by using different-sized cans. This game is an excellent way to reuse tin cans while providing hours of active play.
Paper Plate Frisbee
Turn old paper plates into a fun outdoor frisbee game. Cut the center out of two paper plates and glue them together to create a sturdy ring. Players can take turns throwing the frisbee and challenging each other to hit targets or land in designated zones. The lightweight nature of the plates makes it safe for young children to play with. You can decorate the frisbee with markers, stickers, or paint for added creativity. Adjust the challenge by increasing the throwing distance or adding obstacles. This game encourages outdoor activity and hand-eye coordination. It’s an easy and fun way to repurpose used paper plates into an entertaining toy.
Balloon Paddle Ball
Make a fun and simple paddle ball game using old cardboard and balloons. Cut out two large paddle shapes from sturdy cardboard and attach handles made from toilet paper rolls or sticks. Blow up a balloon to use as the ball, making it lightweight and safe for indoor play. Players can hit the balloon back and forth, trying to keep it from touching the ground. You can turn it into a competitive game by counting the longest rally. Decorating the paddles adds a personal touch to the game. This game is great for developing coordination and reflexes. It’s a fantastic way to recycle materials into a fun and active game for all ages.
Junkyard Obstacle Course
Create an obstacle course using various recycled materials. Use cardboard boxes as tunnels, plastic bottles as hurdles, and old tires as stepping stones. Players must navigate through the obstacles in the fastest time possible. Add fun challenges like balancing on a plank or crawling under string. This game encourages creativity and physical activity. It’s perfect for outdoor play and uses up multiple recyclable items. An exciting way to turn trash into an adventure!
Clothespin Drop Game
Repurpose old clothespins for a classic drop game. Use an empty bottle or a narrow container as the target. Players stand above and try to drop clothespins into the bottle. Assign point values based on difficulty levels, such as increasing the distance of the drop. This game enhances concentration and fine motor skills. You can even add variations, like using different types of containers or making it a team challenge. It’s an easy and engaging way to reuse old clothespins. A fun activity for all ages, perfect for parties or family game nights.
Shoebox Basketball
Make a mini basketball game using a shoebox and a small recycled ball. Cut a hole in the shoebox to serve as the basket. Decorate the box to look like a basketball hoop. Players take turns trying to toss the ball into the hole from a set distance. Adjusting the throwing distance adds difficulty. This game is great for developing coordination and precision. You can create scorecards for competitive play. A fun and easy way to repurpose shoeboxes into an entertaining indoor game.
CD Frisbee Game
Old CDs make excellent frisbees due to their smooth, flat shape. Players can decorate them with stickers or paint to add a personal touch. Set up a target area using boxes or marked circles on the ground. Players take turns throwing the CDs to land them inside the targets. This game helps improve throwing accuracy and coordination. Try different throwing techniques to see which works best. The lightweight nature of CDs makes them safe for both indoor and outdoor play. Recycling old discs into frisbees is a fun and eco-friendly way to repurpose them.
Paper Cup Pyramid Knockdown
Stack paper cups into a pyramid and knock them down with a soft ball. This simple yet fun game helps develop hand-eye coordination. Players can take turns throwing the ball and keeping score. Adjust the difficulty by changing the distance or using different ball sizes. Decorate the cups for added excitement. This game is easy to set up and great for parties. You can even add challenges, like blindfolded throws. It’s a fantastic way to repurpose paper cups into a fun, competitive activity.