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Toddler Activities: Cardboard House

Living Green Toddler Activities: Recycle a large cardboard box into a play house.




cardboard house DESCRIPTION
Before you throw out that cardboard box from an appliance or from moving, save it for a playhouse. MATERIALS

  • Duck Tape

  • Box Cutters

    • OTHER MATERIALS

  • Pictures to display

  • Blankets or play mat

    • STEPS
      windows in cardboard house

    1. Cut a door with the box cutter. (Adult of course)

    2. Cut windows in basic shapes like circles, squares and triangles to help develop shape recognition.

    3. Use two flat pieces for the roof and duck tape it securely.

    4. Place blanket or play mat inside.

    5. Decorate the interior of the house with pictures drawn by your child or print out some family photos.

    6. Place a couple small baskets with a few toys to draw interest in playing in the house...your child will soon discover the windows to peek out of.

    TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS

  • Tape on the interior as well as the exterior to reinforce the structure of the box.

  • Prior to letting your child help decorate the house, make sure there are no large metal clips, staples and other sharp objects. Cover any rough edges with duck tape or remove.

  • If your toddler has an older sibling, introduce the concept of recycling. A great way to naturally introduce the concept of living green.

    • OTHER IDEAS

    Decorate the Exterior and the Interior

  • If you have an area outside where you do toddler activities like painting, you can let your child paint the house with tempera paints. Just be sure to have your child wear a smock!
  • Hang pictures they drew on the walls inside the house. Yes...scribbling counts!
  • Hang printed pictures of family members on the walls

  • I had some large sticker letters so we put the girls names inside the house.
  • Or trace some letters and numbers and help your child put your house number on the front door.
  • Make a mailbox by taping a small box to the outside of your house.
  • We had a few hawaiian print outfits that were outgrown and we hung one above a window from the inside...young toddlers love playing peek a boo.

    • EDUCATIONAL NOTE

    Two types of cardboard can be recycled: flat cardboard, which is typically used in cereal and shoe boxes, and corrugated cardboard, which has a ruffled layer between the two flat pieces of cardboard and is often used in packing boxes. Both can usually be recycled through your neighborhood recycling program. Cardboard is one of the most commonly recycled materials. The durability of cardboard allows it to be recycled into various paper products such as new cardboard, paper, bags, post-it notes, note pads and more.



    Color Me House


    If you don't have access to a box but like the idea...here are some options we just found!! A playhouse made of sturdy and durable 2-ply cardboard. There are no staples or sharp edges and the unit folds up flat for storage. A completed house measures 48" high by 27.5" wide by 35" deep. The product folds flat for storage. For ages 18 months to 6 years. The third option we found is a Coloring Castle.




    Thanks for stopping by! Comments Are Welcome!



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