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Junk Modelling Robots for Preschoolers

May 19, 2020

Welcome to Kids Get Crafty with a Preschool Craft Classic! A fabulous Recycled Project for little ones.

This week we have a craft chosen by Red Ted 2-3 weeks ago. It is (as is supposed to be!) based on a book we were reading: Harry & The Robots. When we had finished it, Red Ted jumped up and demanded to make Robots. Well Robot making does take some thought… and this is how we fared… Junk Modelling Robots are the best for this.

Robots
We shared this Robot back in December 2010! And have republished the article for your convenience!

The Book – Harry and The Robots

Harry and the Robots (Book & CD)

Harryย and The Robots, by Ian Whybrow.

This is the story of Harry. He has a toy robot that breaks. His Granny sends the toy off to be mended and suggest they make some of their own whilst the robot is away. That night however Granny falls ill and is taken to hospital. Harry decides to make his own Robots and then sneaks them into hospital to help Granny get better!ย Heย makes LOADS in all shapes and sizes.ย Red Ted (3) thoroughly enjoyed the book, loved all the little robots and as mentioned above ran off and wanted to make his own.

Junk Modelling Robots

The book is actually a perfect inspiration – as there are indeed about 5 different robots that are all different and basically say “use what you have and let your imagination run wild”.

We made two robots on consecutive days as Red Ted enjoyed the process so much. I will tell you what we used to make them, but don’t worry if you don’t have the same materials – let your imagination and your materials take you somewhere different!

Materials for Junk Modelling Robots

Pink Robot Materials:

  • small box (a mug arrived in this),
  • 4 Bubble bottles (finally a use!),
  • a bubble blowing stick (for antenna),
  • upside down yoghurt pot for head,
  • 3 lids (one large, 2 small),
  • googly eyes,
  • pink arcylic paint,
  • scissors,
  • PVA glue and
  • brushes
Robot Craft

Blue Robot Materials:

  • a medium box (ours isn’t actually a box, the sides where “open”),
  • 4 loo rolls,
  • some corrugated card,
  • 2 large lids,
  • 10 small lids,
  • googly eyes,
  • blue arcylic paint,
  • scissors,
  • masking tape,
  • PVA glue and
  • brushes

We made the pink recycled robot first:

1) I made some holes for the arms and legs and stuck the bubble bottles in. Added a little glue to keep them in place – now the buttons are added at the very end, and we found with both robots, that they made the robots topple – i.e. the leg position needs to be different OR you can fill the legs or the box with rice/ stones or something to weigh it down? Just a thought for you to learn from my “mistakes”.

2) I asked Red Ted what colour he wanted and he shouted pink. He has a REAL thing about me not mixing paint, so I mixed red and white in the kitchen were he couldn’t see it = you learn when you craft with toddlers *sigh*.

3) He then painted the WHOLE LOT. Normally he is bored half way through and asks me to finish it, but he INSISTED to paint it all himself. I held the robot for him and turned it round and pointed to the white bits that need more paint. I was so proud of him.

4) Let dry.

5) Stick on Googly eyes, buttons and antenna – I found lots of PVA worked fine, save for the antenna, where I later used superglue (personal note: don’t EVER use superglue with kids around, I think it just too tempting). Red Ted also decided to draw on the buttons a little. I think it is cute!

PLAY!

Next the Blue Robot from Recycled Materials

For the blue one, we stuck the loo rolls on with lots of masking tape – it has to masking tape, as paint won’t stay on “packing tape”. We used rather a lot, as we also “closed the sides” of the box with tape. For the head, we just rolled up the corrugated card and taped in place. The rest is as before. Note – this one really does topple as it has SOOOO many buttons, but I think either some weights or some “feet” could resolve the problem. Also, that last photo shows me adding lots of extra glue AROUND the buttons to help keep them on. These robots, sadly are not 1-yrs-old safe!!! But are fine for almost 3 year olds!

Play some more. And we did!! YAY!

More fun Recycled Crafts here:

Recycled Craft Ideas
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Filed Under: Kids Craft, Preschoolers, Recycling 30 Comments

Comments

  1. Salma says

    December 1, 2010 at 7:43 am

    This is the sweetest thing ever!!!! Want the book and want to make robots! Love it, love it!

    Reply
  2. fabmums says

    December 1, 2010 at 9:33 am

    I love the robots, what a fun activity for little boys:)

    Reply
  3. Red Ted Art says

    December 1, 2010 at 10:28 am

    Thank you Salma and Maria! Yes, Red Ted is definitely enjoy his “little boy” craft.. will be interesting to see how our craft evolve with Pip Squeak!

    Reply
  4. meninheira says

    December 1, 2010 at 11:40 am

    OHHHHHHHHHH quรฉ bonito! so cute Maggy ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  5. maryanne says

    December 2, 2010 at 12:11 am

    My son would LOVE this craft!

    Reply
  6. Michelle says

    December 2, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    Very cute project!

    Reply
  7. Discovering Montessori says

    December 2, 2010 at 4:40 pm

    I love this! I have to do this activity(with the kids). Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  8. Chris at Thinly Spread says

    December 2, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    Fabulous again!

    Reply
  9. Christianne @ Little Page Turners says

    December 2, 2010 at 6:55 pm

    Very cute! My two year old would have more fun pulling off all the knobs and buttons than putting them on. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  10. JDaniel4's Mom says

    December 2, 2010 at 8:32 pm

    JDaniel has been talking about how he wants a robot. Maybe we should make one too.

    Reply
  11. Natalie says

    December 2, 2010 at 8:52 pm

    What a terrific craft. I really have to make a robot here too one of these days – my daughter would love it.

    Reply
  12. Little Wonders' Days says

    December 3, 2010 at 7:45 am

    Great project! I love how intent he looks!

    Reply
  13. JDaniel4's Mom says

    December 3, 2010 at 12:51 pm

    Thank you so much for linking to Read.Explore.Learn. As a thanks I have Stumbled this post.

    Reply
  14. Amy says

    December 3, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    Oh wow will have to try this one.. Thanks..

    Reply
  15. Janice says

    December 3, 2010 at 6:36 pm

    Thanks for letting us know about your site/link up! Love the robot idea!

    Reply
  16. Holly says

    December 3, 2010 at 7:04 pm

    My 4-year-old is looking at this robot right now and can’t wait to make his own!

    Reply
  17. Michelle says

    December 4, 2010 at 1:14 am

    WE love that book in our house too (I have the whole “Harry” set). I think your robots are ADORABLE!!!! Super cute idea ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  18. kewkew says

    December 4, 2010 at 6:42 am

    Love the little robots. Gotta see if I can get that book when we get to R this time. Last “school” year we also made robots.
    Here is the link, wasn’t sure if I should link up above as it is an old post so I am sharing it here:
    http://totsandme.blogspot.com/2010/03/r-lessons.html

    Reply
  19. Caz says

    December 4, 2010 at 9:51 am

    Thankyou so much for the chance to link up! Is there a button for your site or a link I can put in my post to refer back to your Blog? Lots of great ideas here, and I love your robot craft activity.

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      December 4, 2010 at 10:23 am

      Oh lovely. All badges are here: https://www.redtedart.com/get-crafty-badges/

      Great to see your fab crafts!! Love the bubble wrap snow!

      Reply
  20. KJ@letsgoflyakite says

    December 4, 2010 at 1:12 pm

    Thank you so much for introducing me to your blog. This is wonderful. We love robots in our household. My 5 year old daughter had a robot birthday this past August, for the party craft we made robot zipper pulls from pony beads

    http://letsgoflyakiteuptothehighestheight.blogspot.com/2010/08/robot-zipper-pulls.html

    Reply
  21. Red Ted Art says

    December 4, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    KJ I LOVE your robot zipper chains, I think we will be making some!!

    Reply
  22. Susana says

    December 5, 2010 at 6:27 am

    These robots are amazing!! I would LOVE to make these here!! The books looks super cute too. Thank you for this fun idea!

    Reply
  23. To Sew With Love says

    December 5, 2010 at 6:19 pm

    Hi, Maggy! The robots are fantastic! And the crafts of the fab crafty people here are also great! I will definitely be following you and your blog! Thanks for dropping by to say hi, too ; )

    Hugs,
    Lelanie

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      December 5, 2010 at 6:25 pm

      Ah Lelanie, that is v kind of you to say! I love meeting new “bloggy friends”. Great to have connected!

      Maggy

      Reply
  24. Tracey M says

    December 5, 2010 at 7:46 pm

    What a great book, Harry and the Robots. My son would really like that. The craft that goes with it was just awesome. I love that they made these robots after you read the book. Just visiting from Little Sprout Books.

    Reply
  25. Kelly says

    December 6, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    Thank you for hosting! I’m now following you through GFC

    Kelly
    http://mysimplewalk.com

    Reply
  26. Elise @ Creative Play Central says

    November 1, 2013 at 9:48 pm

    They are such delightful robots! We had a 3D creative challenge and my son made a robot too. If you have a chance to visit this blog post, the link to it is: http://blog.creativeplaycentral.com.au/3d-creative-challenge/

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Red Ted Art's Blog » Blog Archive » Kids Get Crafty – Robot Cards & The Robot & The Blue Bird says:
    February 16, 2011 at 4:28 am

    […] our robots from a few weeks back? Well, Red Ted now ADORES robots, so when we needed some more thank you […]

    Reply
  2. Get Crafty on a Budget – Robots | Baby Budgeting says:
    July 25, 2011 at 5:19 am

    […] are also accompanied by a lovely little book. So hop over to Red Ted Art now and check out this Robot Craft for more […]

    Reply

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