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Grab those cardboard boxes before they go to recycling and try out one of these super fun and simple crafts or activities for kids!
Do you have a collection of cardboard boxes?
Great!
Large boxes, small boxes, pasta boxes, cereal boxes, and any other cardboard box can be repurposed with just a little imagination
If you’re running low on ideas for what to do with a cardboard box, keep reading.
There really are so many possibilities!
Let the unboxing begin!
Crafts to Do With a Cardboard Box
A box is a great supply for crafts!
Check out these cardboard crafts for kids to try today.
- Create a splatter painting. Wrap rubber bands around a cardboard box and let the fun begin!
- Paint a shake art masterpiece. Even a toddler can shake a box!
- Head outside and create a ball painting. Alternatively, use plastic eggs for an easy Easter egg painting project.
- Cut a box to make rubber band printing transfer art. Stamp away!
- Use a cardboard box as a back for string art craft. This is a great way to practice shapes, too.
- Find some flowers for a wildflower bouquet. It’s so cute! And sneaks in a little fine motor practice.
- Wrap yarn ornaments. First, cut a large circle from a cardboard box. Then wrap.
- Make some noise with a DIY hand drum. You could even start a band with these 15+ DIY musical instruments. Pair this activity with a reading of the book Plinka, Plinka, Shake, Shake by Emma Garcia.
- Design a box robot. If you would like to create more robots, check out these robot crafts.
- Decorate a cardboard airplane. Then try one of these 55 transportation themed activities.
- Stamp an upcycled snowman painting. For more snowman-themed crafts, check out these 24 snowman crafts for toddlers and preschoolers.
- Build a 3D Christmas tree craft with a cardboard box. A template is included!
- Play a DIY board game. This is a great way to sneak in a little education, without being bored!
- Work on a math puzzle. The mission is to search, solve, and assemble.
- Assemble a DIY cereal box puzzle. Or use a cracker box or whatever other box you have on hand! This is an easy, fun way to teach numbers.
Activities to Do with a Cardboard Box
Big cardboard boxes are fun to explore!
They can become cars, airplanes, houses, and more.
- Play in a box. The possibilities of what a box can be truly are endless!
- Go box dumpster diving. This is a great way to use a very large box.
- Read books in a box. Some books to enjoy include What to Do with a Box written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Chris Sheban and A Box Can Be Many Things written by Dana Meachen Rau and illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye.
- Travel in a box train. Chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo!
- Learn about weight limits on box flap bridges. Pair this with one of these simple craft stick bridges.
- Build a cardboard box fort. Then try one of these forts.
- Play with cars in a cardboard box parking garage. You could even paint lines for parking!
- Create a homemade cornhole game. Then play together as a family.
- Try a ball drop activity. Can you get the ball to drop through the hole?
More Activities to Do With a Cardboard Box
Here are even more activities with cardboard boxes to try today.
- Build box towers. Using different sized boxes adds to the challenge!
- Wrap a box with tinfoil wrap. Then try one of these other sensory activities.
- Decorate a shaving cream box cake. Messy, but fun!
- Poke a pattern on a box. This is a great way to practice colors!
- Practice fine motor skills with cardboard box hammering. All you need are some golf tees, a box, and a small hammer!
- Use the golf tees and box for this pom pom golf tee activity, too. What design will you create?
- Poke holes with pins to decorate a Christmas Tree. So simple!
- Practice math skills with a number matching box. This takes some prep work but can be used over and over again.
- Play with a magnetic race track box. This can be as fancy or simple as you’d like. Be creative!
- Experiment with a magnetic activity table. Then check out these 50 simple science experiments.
- Capture memories in a cardboard memory box. This would be great to do any time of the year, but especially as a New Year’s Eve countdown activity.
- Design a cardboard box town. Then grab some toys and have hours of play time!
- Watch a ball roll on cardboard box ramps. This may take a little bit of trial and error to get just right, but that’s part of the fun.
- Learn addition skills with a fun visual addition drop. No cardboard tubes? No problem! Thin cardboard boxes can be rolled into tubes. How creative is that?
What is your favorite activity to do with a box?
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