Ready for a craft that’s both creative and educational? This adorable robot bank project is a perfect afternoon activity for you and your child. It teaches them about reusing materials and the importance of saving money—all while having a blast!
We were inspired by this fantastic idea originally from Highlights Kids. They always have such wonderful and imaginative projects, and we just had to share this one with you.
What You'll Need:
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Empty tissue box
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Cardstock in various colors
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Four short cardboard tubes (like from toilet paper rolls)
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Scissors
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Glue
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Craft gems or googly eyes
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Tape
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Velcro dots
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Coins and bills to get started!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
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Build the Body: Take your tissue box and wrap it in cardstock. Make sure to leave a portion of the original tissue opening uncovered—this will be the "door" to get the money out.
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Make Arms & Legs: Cover your four cardboard tubes with cardstock. Now, ask an adult to help you carefully cut four holes in the body of your robot for the arms and legs, plus a coin slot on the top. Insert the tubes into the holes.
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Give Your Robot a Personality: This is the fun part! Cut out shapes from cardstock for the face, hands, feet, buttons, and belly. Glue them onto your robot's body. Use craft gems or googly eyes to give your robot a unique look.
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Create the Money Door: To make the access door, cut a rectangle of cardstock that will cover the opening on the back. Use tape to attach the top edge of the flap to the robot. Add Velcro dots to the bottom corners of the flap and the robot's body to keep it securely closed.
Now your robot is ready to start its job as the best piggy bank ever! When you want to retrieve your savings, just open the flap in the back.
A huge thank you to Highlights Kids for the inspiration! You can find the original project, "Robot Bank," by Elle Vee, with a photo by Guy Cali Associates, Inc., on their website.