How to Create Junk Art Sculptures with Your Kids

Hi guys! So are your kids hoarders like mine? Our youngest, in particular, is the queen of junk. She collects tons of objects that have no rhyme or reason, and then makes stuff that, to her, are brilliant inventions. She calls it tinkering. But it got to the point where I was finding her “treasures” (aka trash) all over the house and it was driving me nuts! I realized one day, though, that I was making her sad by not valuing her need to “tinker, ” and I had a thought: Instead of yelling at her to pick up or throw away her crap, maybe I should encourage it. Maybe she’ll turn out to be an engineer or something!

So, I gave her a box. And we designated it as her tinkering box. Now Mama’s happy because I know where to throw the crap–ahem, tinkering supplies–and she was happy because she could keep anything she wanted.

Then I saw this briiiiillllliant idea on one of my favorite blogs, Shannan Martin Writes. (She used to be Flower Patch Farmgirl.) Do you follow her blog? It’s amaze. She has a gift for language, and her stories will make your heart grow a few sizes, I swear. But anyway, she made junk art with her kids and it turned out so cool! So I showed our little architect, and she was all in. Now even I was picking up and saving junk.

The other day, we got out the hot glue gun and went to town. And this, my friends, is the result:

We are ridiculously proud of our creation. Is it not the coolest? Look at the balance! The intrigue! Now let’s play I Spy. I spy a jack, a purse, a paintbrush, a pipe cleaner and a golf tee. Do you see what I see?

Here are some close-ups.

Side View of Sculpture

Circus Duck Attempting to Jump Through Hoop

Penguin Balancing Act

Little Duck with Fancy Hat is Proud of Her New Purse

And of course, King Teddy Bear with Hamburger Crown and Royal Scepter

Can you tell we had fun with this? I highly recommend creating junk art with your little trash-collectors. It will be one of the best hours you spend all summer.