Duct Tape is an essential tool in our household.
When I was growing up I accidentally broke my Barbie’s leg off when she was doing the splits. I tearfully took the doll to my dad hoping he could work a miracle. He didn’t disappoint! He duct taped the leg back on. My Barbie had a permanent silver skirt and I was happy.
The great thing about duct tape today is all of the colors. You don’t have to settle for a simple silver skirt! It is a great tool for preschool activities too.
It can act as a book binding. I staple pieces of paper together, then run a strip of duct tape along the ‘spine’ to secure the pages and to act as a protectant against the pointy ends of the staples. It strengthens the child’s ‘book’ so they can carry it around a bit longer too:
It can reinforce the sides of a plastic bag for paint-in-a bag:
When I make home-made shape sorters I use duct tape to reinforce and soften the edges of the opening. This is a plastic coffee can made for kids to put cubes into. It’s a very basic introduction to a shape sorter. This one has been well used, and it is always a hit.
I use it to seal containers that become learning tools. This is a Parents as Teachers activity for very young babies. You place rice or beans in the container for stability, place a high contrast, black and white picture on the side, and place it next to new baby. It provides visual stimulation for the baby. I use the duct tape to seal the container:
Duct tape just isn’t for dads and kids. It’s for mom’s too!
When I have it on my desk it becomes a cup holder:
It also can be a quick fix hem for jeans. It really works!
These are just a few ways that I use duct tape at school and at home. If you have unique ways that you use this great product please share it in the comments below!
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Oh duct tape is a staple in our house as well! Both big boys have (multiple) duct tape wallets!
I’m surprised we don’t have a couple of duct tape wallets at our house!
Isn’t it amazing how duct tape comes in so many beautiful colors now! Makes it actually quite fun to find good uses for it in preschool too!!
Plus they have some really cute patterns too! But I tend to keep it simple.
Oh goodness, I love duct tape! There are so many cool designed out there. I also used duct tape to make all kind of instruments with my kids- strong and also colorful!
Melanie, Do you have a post about them? Feel free to share the link.
I cut the handle down for a kid size broom and taped it hot pink for the 5 yr old little grand.
Jeannie, I’m sure she loved it too.
I swear Target has at least 15 different colors of Duct tape available. Whatever the need they have it. Thanks for the inspiration.
You’re welcome! Never thought I would be excited about duct tape.:)
So many good ideas and they have such stylish duct tape now. Thanks for sharing. Pinning this! Vicky from http://www.messforless.net
Thanks Vicky.
Love all the ideas especially the book binding idea! I can’t believe how many types of tape that I use now that I am a mom. It’s crazy!
Love the tape options too. I use a lot of clear packing tap when I need a quick and small lamination job done.
Duct tape is such a great way to keep things from ending up in the landfill quite as fast and a great way to reuse empty kitchen containers! Thanks so much for sharing all of your great ideas.
Abbie ~ Thanks for visiting. At work we try to encourage parents to use what they have on hand.
I totally use duct tape to hem my pants!! lol!
Hahahaha – Leslie that really did make me LOL
I hate to sew. I know how to shorten pants, but sometimes I just can’t bring myself to do it. Duct tape works! Maybe not long term…but it is a quick solution. lol
i’m so with you there, I always freak out if we run out of duct tape
Make a flag from some old fabric (square or triangle)(just rip or cut it) and use duct tape to stick it to a long bamboostick.
you can first paint or draw on it with a felt-pen. My son (4yrs) made one on a festival here in Holland (he drew a robot on it;awesome!) and played with it all day long!
Linda – What a great idea. Thanks for sharing it with us.
My daughters school actually offers a summer school workshop on duct tape called “Designing with Duct Tape” they make a pencil holder, a lunch box/bag, journal and decorated pens. However this class is for 3 days for 3 hours each day and costs $133.00? My daughter has been begging to do it, but that is a bit much for duct tape!!!
Love the ideas, but wow…I agree that’s a lot of $$$. Can she work on doing it on her own? That would be an interesting independent summer study. Maybe with a couple of friends??
I have been so wanting to get some of that colored duct tape. Guess I have a few reasons to do so now! Especially like the cup holder.
so need to use the tape on the pants! Frogs and snails and puppt dog tails
I love all the new patterns they have in duct tape now!
They colors and patterns are so much fun. Duct tape has come along way since I was a kid!
You can use duct tape to make colored wallets… my kids make them and sell them at school for a dollar!!!
My girls, 11 and 9, asked for duck tape for Christmas & they got it!! We love to make tote bags. Sometimes the bag is the gift or may contain a smaller gift. But oh we love the duck tape!
When I use duck tape I know MacGyver would be proud!!
[...] Duct Tape for Kids – reuse an old coffee can for a shape sorter. [...]
My grand-daughters love duck tape. I actually framed my mirrors with it. We moved into a home that had 5 huge unframed mirrors and I framed them with a wood grain duck tape they look awsome and it only took a few minutes to do each one.