Constructing with Cardboard

Large or small, plain or fancy, there's nothing quite like a cardboard box to promote creativity and imaginative play.

Box Cars

Easy to make, simply seal the bottom of the box and open the top. Next, cut off three of the four top flaps. Tape the fourth flap so that it stands up and cut out a rectangle to create a windshield. Next, draw doors, headlights, license plate, etc. on the outside of the box and a dashboard on the inside. Make the steering wheel and tires out of a paper plates fastened in place with large brass paper fasteners. Paint, colour and decorate as desired.

Dioramas

Create scenes to display toy animals, dolls, cars, etc. Turn the open end of the box on its side. Next design, paint and colour the interior and exterior. For example, create a gas station scene for matchbox cars by making gasoline pumps, spare tires and car lifts. For a doll's room, use cardboard to make a couch, coffee table and TV. When dry, display toys in the diorama.

Shoebox Trains

Start by using a large shoebox with a smaller one to create the train's engine. Glue the tops of each to their bottoms. Then, glue the smaller box onto the top of the larger box towards the back. Next, glue a toilet paper roll to the top front end of the larger box. Paint the engine and then draw on it various amenities - windows, wheels, a conductor, etc. Use additional boxes to make freight or passenger cars and decorate accordingly. Attach them all together using pipe cleaners or string.

Building Blocks

Cardboard boxes and cardboard rolls make wonderful building blocks. Simply collect several boxes and decorate with paint or markers. You can even coat them with clear acrylic paint to increase their lifespan.

By Rochelle Strauss