Magazine Collage Making

Low-Cost or No-Cost Kids’ Activities: Magazine Collage Making

Looking for a fun activity to keep little hands busy without spending a fortune? Collage making is a brilliant way to encourage creativity using things you probably already have at home.

It's one of those wonderfully simple activities that can keep children entertained for ages, and the best bit is that you don't need to buy lots of craft supplies. We used an old National Trust magazine and a local newspaper, but any old magazines, catalogues or colourful leaflets will work just as well.

What you'll need

• Old magazines, newspapers or colourful catalogues
• A glue stick
• A pair of child-friendly scissors
• A piece of paper or card for your collage

That's it! No expensive craft kits or complicated preparation needed.

Let's get creative!

Start by flicking through your magazines and looking for interesting pictures, colours, patterns and words. Children can choose anything that catches their eye – perhaps animals, flowers, food, houses, people or their favourite colours.

Next, carefully cut out the pictures. Younger children might enjoy tearing the paper into different shapes instead, which is a lovely way to explore textures and shapes.

Once you've collected a little pile of pictures, it's time to start arranging them on your paper. There are no rules here! Children can overlap pictures, create a themed collage, make a funny picture or simply stick things together in whatever way they like.

When they're happy with their design, use a glue stick to secure everything in place.

What skills does collage making develop?

Although it might look like a simple sticking activity, collage making is fantastic for developing a range of important skills.

• Fine motor skills: Picking up small pieces of paper, holding scissors and applying glue all help strengthen the small muscles in children's hands and fingers.
• Hand-eye coordination: Children practise coordinating what they see with how they move their hands when cutting and positioning pictures.
• Scissor skills: Cutting out different shapes helps children develop control, accuracy and confidence using scissors.
• Creativity and imagination: Choosing pictures, colours and layouts encourages children to experiment and express their own ideas.
• Decision-making: Working out where each picture should go gives children the opportunity to make their own creative choices.

A little creativity goes a long way!

We love activities like this because they prove that you don't need lots of expensive toys or craft supplies to have a creative afternoon. Sometimes a few old magazines and a glue stick are all you need!

It's also a lovely way to reuse paper that might otherwise go into the recycling bin. Once finished, why not display your child's masterpiece on the fridge or pin it up in their bedroom?

Low cost, low waste and lots of creative fun – what's not to love?