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Get Outdoors: Fun in a Cardboard Box

What fun there is to be found in a cardboard box! Do you remember making box cars like this when you were a child? I have made them with many, many children as a teacher and now one very special little person as a mummy. After a first run around the yard a design flaw was found! Modifications had to be made to include a carrier for the kids in the backseat! That I can say with certainty, was a first for me 🙂

You can drive really, really fast in your car which involves running forwards and backwards when reversing, and navigating around objects in your back yard but be careful to slow down when the policeman is around. I think tomorrow we might add a stop sign and traffic light.

Other ideas for box play outdoors;

  • Cut out a hole in the side or top of a large box to make a target for throwing balls or bean bags into. Draw the face of your favourite animal or character with the hole as a mouth if you are feeling really creative.
  • Add a tall cardboard tube or broomstick and a sheet for a mast and sail and sail the seven seas in your box boat.
  • BIG boxes from appliances are perfect for homemade cubby houses, loved by generations of toddlers and bigger kids (even if they won’t admit it!) Cut out a door and a few windows with a utility knife. Decoration optional!

What fun have you found hiding in a cardboard box recently?

How are you going with the Get Outdoors for the month of April challenge? I will be putting up a linky this Friday for readers to share their favourite outdoor activities from April so if you haven’t already, don’t forget to add an outdoors post to your blog calendar this week.

Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.

Filed Under: Outdoor Fun, Physical

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Next post: 20 Ways to Get Arty Outdoors

Read the comments or scroll down to add your own:

  1. claireyh says

    April 26, 2011 at 6:33 PM

    Boxes are standard play here, and recently we helped my Mum unpack her new kids wear shop, box heaven! Have you read the delightful book Clancy and Millie, well the girls were trying to recreate the book and managed to do a reasonable job! Looking forward to my first link up for outdoor play!
    • Christie Burnett says

      April 27, 2011 at 8:22 PM

      I don't know Clancy and Millie, thanks for the tip.
  2. Kate says

    April 26, 2011 at 8:13 PM

    Love the red patty pan tail-lights!
  3. Amanda - Busy Brissy Mum says

    April 26, 2011 at 8:45 PM

    @claireyh - That Clancy and Millie book is wonderful! @ Christie - while at the park one weekend we came across a fantastic birthday party. The theme was cars and the parents had sourced enough plain white boxes for each of the children. You can imagine the fun they had with them. I loved watching their car races and only wished I could join in the fun!! I love Immy's car. We too have a box car here but last night some much smaller boxes were made into homes for the toy rabbit (pretending to be a guinea pig) and the puppy.
    • Christie Burnett says

      April 27, 2011 at 8:27 PM

      The birthday party sounds divine, what a fantastic idea.
  4. Catherine says

    April 26, 2011 at 11:41 PM

    We love cardboard boxes & have had a whole load of fun with them. Perfect for imaginary play as they can turn into anything you want them to be! Thought you might like to see the latest fun we've had with one outside. http://sunhatswellieboots.blogspot.com/2011/04/when-is-box-not-box-when-its-princess.html
  5. kitchencounterchronicles says

    April 27, 2011 at 1:39 AM

    Fantastic! Love the cardboard box! So simple and so useful. My kids turn the boxes into little houses for their toys..bedrooms, bathrooms and cars of course! Thanks.
    • Christie Burnett says

      April 27, 2011 at 8:29 PM

      They really are the perfect toy!
  6. Lindsey says

    April 29, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    It's amazing the huts/cars/mud skipper houses/ships one can build with a plastic kiddie swimming pool. We use that thing ALL YEAR LONG!
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