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Ten Ways To Reuse Old Toys

By Tara Hari

Kids outgrow their toys is a universally accepted fact. Due to their limited attention span, kids need something new and novel to catch their fancy. And a cherished and worn toy may be discarded at any moment to make way for a new favourite. They keep losing interest in their toys, and this will only increase as they grow older. The pile of unused toys will grow bigger and bigger as the years pass by.

All parents face the dilemma of getting rid of these old toys. A few can be donated to charities or orphanages. You can even pass of a relatively new toy as a gift to some other child in the family. But sometimes, certain toys are too valuable or cherished to give away. So how about you create something entirely different and innovative from an old discarded toy? This way, you will not lose out on the money you spent for the toy, making it cost effective.

Here are some of the ways by which you can reuse old toys.

Lego Storage Box

Lego Storage Box

Remember those huge lego blocks that constantly got under your feet? Instead of throwing them away, a great way to reuse this old toy would be to use it as a storage box.

Xylophone Wind Chimes

Xylophone Wind Chimes

You can remove all the xylophone pieces and make it into a wind chime by cording them down from a hoop. This is a great way to reuse old toys.

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Christmas Tree Ornaments

If the toys are small enough to be strung up from your hoop, then they can be used as Christmas tree ornaments. This is one of the best ways to reuse old toys and also to really liven up the holidays by spreading Christmas cheer. Also, you will be reminded of all the lovely memories about the toys when you see them decorating the tree.

Wooden Puzzle Ornaments

Wooden Puzzle Ornaments

A great way to reuse old toys is to use them as ornaments. You can drill a hole through wooden puzzle pieces to get stamen accessories that can liven up any look.

Stuffed Animal Bookends

Stuffed Animal Bookends

A very cost effective way to reuse an old stuffed toy is to use it as a bookend. You can remove the stuffing and replace it with heavy things like dried beans to weight them down.

Laminated Place Mats

Laminated Place Mats

You can reuse old storybooks by selecting a page which is vibrant and colourful by laminating it. You can use these fun and innovative pages as place mats to add a kick to your dining table.

Picture Holding Wooden Blocks

Picture Holding Wooden Blocks

You can reuse old toys such as wooden blocks in a very creative manner. All you have to do is make a small slit on top of the wooden blocks to use them as picture holders. The pictures can be put in the slit and the end result is simply charming.

Dinosaur Toy Planters

Dinosaur Toy Planters

You can scoop out the back part of old toy dinosaurs to use them as toy planters. This is a great way to reuse your old toys and put them to a better use. The hollow back can be filled with sand and you can grow miniature plants in them.

Toy Magnets

Toy Magnets

One of the best ways to reuse old toys is to use them as magnates. You can stick a magnet to the back of any toy and put it up on the fridge, drawer etc.

Planter Toy Wagon

Planter Toy Wagon

This is one of the best ways to reuse old toys. All children would have had a toy wagon at one point or the other. Instead of throwing them away after your kids are tire of them, you can fill it with dirt and sand and grow a small portable garden.

Story first published: Friday, August 9, 2013, 21:30 [IST]
Read more about: home improvement kids