What to do with broken crayons?

One weekend, while cleaning, I asked my child if I could throw away these broken crayons because he got new ones anyway. He refused and said, “But daddy, they can still color.”

That little wisdom reminded me that even when life seems shattered, there remains a part of you that you can use to create beauty.

So if ever you feel broken, don’t throw yourself away. Remember that “broken crayons still color.” Even the Lord has ensured us that He is “…close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Other things you can do with your kids with their broken crayons

1. Crayon Sorting and Organizing: Let kids sort broken crayon pieces by color and organize them into containers. This can help improve their color recognition and fine motor skills.
2. Chunky Crayon Art: Encourage kids to use the broken crayon pieces to create chunky crayon art. They can arrange the pieces in interesting patterns or shapes on a piece of paper and then melt them together with a hairdryer to create unique artwork.
3. Crayon Rubbings: Place a sheet of paper over textured surfaces like leaves, coins, or tree bark. Then, have kids use the sides of broken crayons to create colorful rubbings, revealing the textures underneath.
4. Crayon Sculptures: Provide kids with clay or playdough, and let them embed broken crayon pieces into their creations. The crayons can add a fun, colorful twist to their sculptures.
5. Crayon Marbles: With your supervision, kids can melt broken crayon pieces into small silicone molds to create crayon “marbles.” These marbles can be used for rolling and coloring on paper, creating unique textures and patterns.

These activities are not only a great way to make use of broken crayons, but they also encourage creativity and fine motor skill development in children. Ideal for families like us who do homeschooling crafts.