A Cardboard Box... let the magic begin!

A new appliance has joined the family and you are getting ready
to throw out the packing material. 
After all...
It's just a cardboard box...

STOP!
Don't throw it away.
Create, pretend and play first!

If you aren't in the market for a new appliance, do not fear.  Contact any store that sells appliances and ask for a refrigerator, washing machine or dryer box.  Actually, any large box(s) will do.  Most businesses are more than happy to share packing boxes with you. Many times I have gone dumpster diving (with permission) for that perfect box.

After bringing the box home an adult should cut out windows,doors and ramps.  Whatever suits your fancy.  If kids are old enough let them help create the design.  Make two holes in the doors and lace  string in each hole for door handles.  This makes it easier to open and close the doors.

 

 Bring out crayons and markers and let the kids decorate the box. 

 

Draw grass and flowers on the outside, color in the letters on the box, draw furniture on the inside.

 

Label the front door with your name.

 

Add a piece of carpet scrap or a carpet rectangle (sample) for indoor carpeting. 

 

Cut apart old greeting cards and tape them inside for artwork on the walls. 

 

 A piece of foil taped inside makes a fun "mirror".

 

Light weight dish towels or pieces of fabric can be taped, or tacked, to the window openings for curtains.

 

Let your imagination go wild!

 

 

And, don't forget... it is fun for big people too! 

Kids will love it if you join them inside their new secret place. 

What a great way to share a story, read a book or pretend.

 

 

  Why not get several boxes and set up a "city" in the basement or backyard.

You may be surprised of the hours of fun a simple cardboard box will generate!






This Blog Post is inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

from Amazon.com

Or

from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

Silver Dollar City General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can also be checked out of the following libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI

 

Cardboard Box Fun!

It looks like an ordinary cardboard box...

But, to a child is becomes a...

fort

space ship

garage

secret hide-out

boat

car

play house

maze

etc.

 

Years ago we had just moved to another state.  Many things weren't unpacked yet and I was looking for something creative for the kids to do.  So, we took an empty box and turned it on its side. 

We cut out windows and a door.  Later we added a left over carpet scrap (a rug would work also). 

The next day we drew pictures on the outside of the box with crayons. 

Flowers, trees, grass and insects appeared on the outside of our "house". 

A roll of foil was found and a "mirror" appeared inside. 

Old greeting cards became pictures hanging on the wall. 

Crayons and markers created elaborate borders for each piece of wall art. 

Furniture was drawn on the walls to indicate which room of the house we were sitting in. 

 When some string was unpacked, we added handles to our window and door openings

to make them easier to open and close.

Every day, for weeks, we added something new.

 

 

 

Many years (yes years) of fun were had in that play box. 

It also sparked ideas for many more creations that lasted until the kids

 were in upper elementary school. 

 

"Robots"

 

Their ideas became more elaborate as they aged. 

 

 

 

We went through a lot of tape.  But the hours of fun and creativity it provided was well worth it!

 

 

After another move, when we had a fourth grader in the house,

the basement became consumed with a giant tunnel system created with our moving boxes. 

 Each day it become more elaborate as the design developed and became enhanced with things such as secret doors and spy holes.

 

Recently a young woman told me that playing in this cardboard maze in our basement

 was one of her favorite childhood memories. 

 

Who would have thought card board boxes could do that?

 

Playing with cardboard boxes is wonderful for dramatic role playing

and helps foster creativity in children.

Why foster creativity?  Architects, engineers, technology designers, teachers, carpenters, as well as actors, writers, musicians, and many more professions depend on creativity

 to excel in their profession.

 

So, give your kids some cardboard boxes, a roll of tape and let their imagination go! 

You will have to help make cuts if their design needs it.

 

Want an activity that may last the entire summer?

Contact a store that sells appliances and ask them to save you a box.

 

This could possibly be the best investment in your summer fun,

providing hours of play and creative opportunity for your children.