Got kids? Got paper? Why not teach the kids some recycling lessons while providing them with a lot of fun at the same time!?

Try some of these things on a rainy day (or a sunny day – Mother Nature will appreciate it any time of year!):

• An easy one – and one we hope you already do – is to lets kids’ creative juices flow on used one-sided paper.

• Old rolls of wallpaper can be used for children’s drawings.
To fill in a rainy day get a paper recycling kit and get the kids to rip up old used paper to make recycled paper, it can be great fun.

• Discarded A4-sized paper can be cut and stapled together to make notepads for kids (and adults) to doodle on. (Alternatively, if you save five reams, it will cost you about $5 to get a print company to convert this paper into 'proper' notepads.)

• Re-sealable envelopes can be reused many times; like this creative mom: “My daughter takes one to school when she orders her lunch,” she says. “The envelope has all details written in felt on the front and the money sealed inside. She brings the envelope home and we use it again until it gets too shabby.” Not bad – or come up with your own!

• After children's drawings and paintings have been displayed for a while they can be used to wrap presents - this also makes the present special.

These ideas – and many more – can be found online at

http://www.reducerubbish.govt.nz/recycle/tips.htm