10 Simple STEM Challenges for Families: Reuse Holiday Packaging
The holiday season leaves us with plenty of wrapping paper scraps, empty boxes, and leftover ribbons—so why not turn them into a family STEM adventure? These simple challenges are perfect for keeping kids (and adults) entertained over the holiday break while teaching sustainability and problem-solving skills. Bonus: You’re reducing waste and having fun at the same time!
STEM Challenges: Holiday Packaging Edition
After all the unwrapping and celebrating, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the leftover packaging and bits of holiday chaos. But instead of seeing it as waste, why not turn it into an opportunity? With a little creativity, those scraps and materials can become the building blocks for fun STEM activities that engage the whole family and teach valuable lessons about sustainability. Here are 10 family-friendly challenges that are sure to bring fun (and laughter) into your home!
1. Wrapping Paper Towers
Challenge your family to build the tallest tower using leftover wrapping paper, tape, and cardboard tubes from used-up rolls. Add an engineering twist: the tower must support a small object, like a toy or a book, for 10 seconds. This activity encourages creativity, structural design, and teamwork—and makes great use of materials that might otherwise be trashed.
2. Box Bridge Challenge
Gather empty gift boxes and cardboard packaging to create a bridge that spans a certain distance (e.g., between two chairs or across a gap on the floor). Test its strength by adding small weights like canned goods or toys. It’s a fun way to explore physics and engineering concepts while reusing materials.
3. Ribbon Racers
Reuse gift ribbons to create a family racing challenge. Attach ribbons to small toys or homemade cardboard cars and use wind power (blowing through straws) to propel them across a table or floor. This activity combines physics, design, and a healthy dose of competition.
4. Wrapping Paper Parachutes
Turn leftover wrapping paper and ribbons into parachutes! Attach them to small, lightweight toys and test how they float to the ground. Experiment with different sizes and shapes of paper to see which design stays in the air the longest. This is a great way to discuss air resistance and gravity with kids.
5. Recycled Catapult
Create a mini catapult using leftover boxes, popsicle sticks, and rubber bands. Test how far you can launch crumpled wrapping paper balls. This activity introduces principles of tension, force, and angles while encouraging hands-on exploration.
6. Cardboard Maze
Turn a large, flat piece of cardboard into a maze for a marble or small ball. Use scraps of wrapping paper tubes and packaging to create walls and obstacles. Family members can take turns designing, building, and solving each other’s mazes, combining creativity and critical thinking.
7. Gift Box Robots
Transform empty gift boxes into robots with moving parts. Use tape, markers, and craft supplies to decorate, and add levers or simple moving mechanisms with bottle caps or straws. This is a great introduction to basic mechanics and creative design.
8. DIY New Year’s Eve Piñata
Got leftover cardboard, tissue paper, or wrapping paper? Turn them into a festive New Year’s Eve piñata! This activity combines crafting and engineering skills, as kids design the structure and figure out how to hang and break it. For a step-by-step guide, check out this blog post: DIY New Year’s Eve Piñata. It’s a sustainable way to ring in the New Year with fun and flair.
9. Wrapping Paper Math
Make math fun with leftover wrapping paper! Cut it into strips and use it for activities like measuring distances, creating shapes, or even building bar graphs. Kids can practice math skills while gaining a hands-on understanding of geometry and measurement.
10. Holiday Light Circuit Lab
If you’ve got old holiday lights that don’t work, dissect them to learn about circuits! Use batteries, aluminum foil, and bulbs to create simple circuits that light up. Discuss the flow of electricity and the importance of reusing old items instead of discarding them.
Don’t Forget to Dispose Responsibly
While these activities are a great way to reuse materials, some items might eventually need to be disposed of. Here are a few tips to keep it sustainable:
- Recycle smart: Check with your local waste management company to see if wrapping paper can be recycled. Most paper without glitter or plastic coatings is recyclable, while others might need to go in the trash.
- Save for later: Keep ribbons, bows, and gift bags to use for future holidays or craft projects.
- Compostable items: Brown paper and cardboard can often be composted or added to your recycling bin—just remove any tape or stickers first.
- Sort efficiently: Break down boxes to save space and ensure they’re ready for recycling.
Making Sustainability Fun
These STEM challenges not only encourage kids to think critically and creatively but also highlight the importance of reusing and repurposing materials. By turning holiday leftovers into hands-on learning opportunities, you’re teaching valuable lessons about sustainability and resourcefulness.
What creative STEM activities does your family love? Share your ideas in the comments—we’d love to try them! Here’s to a holiday break filled with learning, laughter, and a little less waste.
