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Dramatic and Imaginative Play: Cardboard Box Project Round Up

I once thought about starting a second blog called ‘Girl With a Box‘ because I love the challenge of creating playful resources from something as simple as a cardboard box. There is a new project underway at our house at the moment so I thought there seemed like no better time to present a round up of my previous playful cardboard box challenges …

Dramatic and Imaginative Play Ideas

(see above)

Kids Kitchen for Under $10

Kitchen Buffet

Ice Cream Shop

Table Top Puppet Theatre

dramatic play for preschoolers

Kids Car

Dress Up Wardrobe

Diorama Inspired Play Scenes

Hair Salon or Dressing Table

I am always on the lookout for new challenge ideas as well. What would your child love you to create from a cardboard box?


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Christie Burnett is an early childhood teacher, presenter, writer and the editor of Childhood 101. More importantly, she is a Mum who believes wholeheartedly in the value of children learning through play, the importance of quality early education, and the togetherness of family.

Read more of Christie's adventures at https://childhood101.com.

Read the comments or scroll down to add your own:

  1. I'm never short of cardboard boxes, egg cartons and toilet rolls- like most families I guess! So the 'Girl with a box' blog sounds wonderful for inspiration- and while you're at it 'Girl with an egg carton' and 'Girl' with a toilet roll. You must get your hands on a copy of 'Not a box'- if you haven't already seen it.

  2. Wow! You do love your boxes ;-) I have a pile of boxes that have been waiting for some creating for months. You have inspired me to hurry up and create something. Thanks. x t

  3. I love all your ideas... They definitely don't look like cardboard boxes anymore after the wonderful make-overs you do! We made a Rocketship and a very cute ride-in Train out of cardboard boxes last week.

  5. These are wonderful ideas. Kids also can have fun with the boxes making their own creations. They might not turn out as useful or cute as the ones you shared (they may not even end up being recognizable as anything), but the children will spend a good chunk of busy time poking holes and drawing on their boxes...making them into playhouses, dollhouses and whatever they can imagine up. Loved the ideas you shared!

    • We have lots of child initiated and completed projects at our home too. My box projects actually started as a way to save money and show that children can have just as much fun with a cardboard kitchen as with an expensive wooden one.

  9. My children are really into cars, police and fire engines. I would really like to create them a car garage or a fire station. Can you help?

  10. My son loves cars and helping in the kitchen. I wanted to buy him a play kitchen during the sales but thought he would probably only play with it for a couple of days so didn't proceed - Plus I don't like plastic throw away toys. These designs are a much better option and couldn't come at a better time as we have just moved into a new house and have boxes everywhere. I'm going for a walk through local hard rubbish to find some handles now! Kitchen and car coming right up! I might even add a trailer or campervan???

  11. Thanks for this great inspiration! I made a very basic version for my son and he loves it.I didn't want to buy one as I know he has a kitchen at daycare he can play with a few times a week and thought he may grow tired of it. I just cut out red circles and covered it with contact paper and made the lid flaps an oven and used duct tape for a handle! I made a shelf in it from two of the lid flaps and he keeps baking us cupcakes. Also as it was a small box I can fit it in the kitchen so he plays near me instead of trying to 'help' me.

  12. Hi there! im sooo happy to have stumbled upon this page! im BUBBLING with excitement to create these becauuuuuuuse i always have a ton of pampers boxes AND my kids LOVE these things you've created. Buying these play sets are very expensive sooooo i cant wait to get started. Thank you thank you thank you!

  13. These are wonderful ideas.Winging it,Playing Library,Indoor Pretend Play Spaces,Playing Mail Centre is a firm favourite with preschoolers, we love this one from Buggy & Buddy. There are the some dramatic and imaginative play ideas with cardboard boxes.

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