9 Earth Friendly Ways to Play

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We have been trying hard to take a look around our house and make decisions on how we can reduce our carbon foot print. We have joined our neighborhood compost program, we aim to use reusable grocery bags when we go shopping, and we are in the process of switching from one time use products to a more sustainable option. One area I have really been focusing on recently is how we reduce, reuse, and repurpose our play materials – especially during sensory play.  I try to reuse sensory materials as much as I can and you will often find me digging through our recycling to save containers and other materials to repurpose later on. Below is a list of ways we have been reducing, reusing, and repurposing in our play and are sharing in hopes that you will feel inspired to do the same.

Reduce & Reuse

I reuse our Sensory Bin Fillers as many times as I can. If the dry rice/lentils/pasta can be stored away for future use, that’s what I do!

Sensory bottles can be made out of old plastic bottles. While I love the look of the Voss Water Bottles, really any water bottle will do the trick. You can make noisy bottles or calming bottles.

I love filling gallon ziplock bags with items for baby safe sensory play. I’ve recently been feeling guilty about the one time use bags, so I picked up these reusable storage bags. While the setup isn’t perfect, it gets the job done and I feel better about putting less into the landfill.

Homemade Play Dough is so easy to make, and if stored properly, can last up to a year. Our home made play dough is food based, so once beyond reusable we can dispose in our composter. We love this recipe from Playdough to Plato.

Repurpose

Hang on to those Melissa & Doug Wooden Trays. They are pretty amazing and can be used for a variety purposes. Check out this post for over 10 ways to repurposes Melissa & Doug boxes. Pictured below is an old tray that we filled with rice to practice our letters.

Save those containers from the recycling bin. Water bottles can be turned into sensory bottles, cardboard boxes can become ball drops or rocket ships, and tin cans can be turned into marker storage or vases.

Styrofoam is probably one of the worst things out there for the environment because it never breaks down. So when it finds a way into our house I am always looking for a fun way to incorporate it into our art or play. I love this Mosaic idea and this DIY stamp idea.

Wipes are a staple in our house and with that comes wipes lid fun. Separate the lids from the packaging and attach them to a board or cardboard box. Then place a texture or picture inside the lid so baby will open the lid and be surprised with what is inside.

I hoard empty toilet paper and paper towel cardboard tubes because they make great opportunities for open ended play. You can create binoculars, ball drops, art work, voice amplifiers, bird feeders, etc.

These are just a handful of ways we are making adjustment in our play to reduce our carbon footprint. Do you have any ideas? Please leave them in the comments below!