Paper Towel Roll Activities for Kids

Repurposed Play Part 2: Paper Towel Rolls

April 7, 2021

Here is our next installment of repurposed play where we take typical household items and turn them into your kids next favorite toy/activity. Today we have... paper towel rolls!

Brittany McKnight, MS OTR/L

Hi friends! Here is our next installment of repurposed play where we take typical household items and turn them into your kids next favorite toy/activity. Today we have...

Cardboard paper towel rolls!

Empty paper towel rolls

Five Repurposed Play Activities

Here are five different activities you can fashion out of your leftover cardboard roll:

Pom Pom Drop

Tape the cardboard roll to the wall with gentle tape such as masking tape, and let your little one drop pom poms through the tube. You could also use other small objects or toys for this activity (just be sure to supervise little people with little objects). This can be used for younger kiddos, like in the picture above, or can be upgraded to address coloring sorting, letter matching, and learning counting for our older kiddos.

2. Sensory tubes

You can make several with different fillers including rice, dried beans, coins, etc. Cover the whole roll in duct tape and decorate it to make it more fun! These make great musical instruments that help your kiddos explore sounds.

3. Threading activity

Cut the paper towel roll in half, punch holes in it using single hole punch, and have kids thread and remove pipe cleaners or straws to address fine motor and visual motor skills.

4. Haircut game

This is a great activity to help your kiddo use their imagination. Draw faces on the rolls and have your child cut their “hair” to practice scissor skills and safety. Then your little one can use the cardboard "people" for some fun pretend play!

5. DIY building blocks

Building blocks are a beloved favorite of toddlers and young kids. This activity is a unique twist on the classic toy that your little ones will enjoy! Color or wrap the rolls in construction paper or tape, cut slits on each side, and you have endless construction play opportunities.

There are so many possibilities with a paper towel roll to encourage playing, learning, and achieving. What ideas have you tried? Let us know in the comments!

Check out our other blog posts for more fun activities!

Sources:

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