10 Toilet Paper Roll Crafts & Activities for Kids

If you’re stocked up on toilet paper, don’t toss the empty rolls in the trash! You can transform these cardboard tubes into educational games, awesome art projects, and tools for at-home learning!

Kaleidoscope Symmetry

Explore the science of symmetry and observe how light and mirrors make pretty patterns with this DIY kaleidoscope!

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Dancing Puppets

Transform a toilet paper tube into a marionette that moves with help from a simple machine. Learn how levers work by making your own dancing puppet!

Dancing Puppets: Dancing Puppets

Light-Up Mason Jar

Bring the stars to you and learn about the amazing night sky by creating your own mini-constellation jar that can light up!

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Binoculars

With three toilet paper rolls, some stickers, and string, this recycled project lends itself to all sorts of fun. With these binoculars, your little explorers can go on an exciting expedition to wherever their imaginations take them.

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Cardboard Tube Octopus

This simple octopus doubles as a puppet. Make a few octopi in different colors and put on a puppet show. 

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Teaching Tubes

This cute craft doubles as a learning activity! Younger kids can use it to practice the alphabet while older kids can use it to practice multiplication tables.
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Feelings Friend

Create characters that change expressions to show different emotions. You can use the ones your kids create to check-in with their own emotions each day!
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 Cardboard Owls

Transform your tubes into a family of owls! Use scrap paper and other materials to decorate.
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Toilet Paper Kazoo

Make a musical instrument! Create a kazoo using a roll, a sheet of paper and a rubber band.
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Cardboard Coiled Snakes

Use your spare cardboard rolls to make colorful, coiled snakes! 
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Cardboard Tube Rocket Ship

Create a rocket ship, and fly it to the moon!
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Cardboard Construction Set

This simple DIY construction set slots together to make all kinds of funky cardboard shapes and sculptures.
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Cardboard Tube Marble Run

Create a marble run on a wall using tubes and tape. If you don’t have a marble, try it with other small round objects.
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Tube Letters

These tube letters are a fun way to display a message – no tape or string required!
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Toilet Paper Speaker & Phone Holder

Amplify the speakers on your phone with the toilet paper tube hack! You can also use it as a tripod to hold your phone while you video chat with friends or family while at-home.
Learn More: Toilet Paper Speaker & Phone Holder