…I’m cooking dinner and eavesdropping on two jungle explorers who are fending off tigers on my back porch, based out of a big cardboard box which is their “explorer camp”. One is in a big blue hard hat, shooting arrows…and one is in a fireman hat, wearing gold medals he won this morning for flying to outer space…in the same cardboard box. Both of them are dead serious.
At one point, the elder explorer comes in, out of breath, saying there were SO many tigers, they would need more help. He says, (gesturing towards my husband, in the other room), “Please fetch that gentleman over there to help us wrestle this flock of tigers.” …Oh my.
The Cardboard box…is there a more open-ended toy to be a found? The most ingenious ideas for box use will invariably come from simply leaving a child alone with the box (I’ve had to learn some humility in our house, as the best creations always come with no nudging from mama) but if you need some inspiration to keep that next cumbersome, corrugated friend that comes your way – these are just a few of the possibilities:
1. A Toy House. If you have boys, never fear, they love this, too. My sons started one of these a few weeks ago, adding all sorts of things like food storage areas, garages, and pipes to carry water to the little bathroom they built upstairs. For an artistic twist on this idea, check out Artful Parent’s cardboard dollhouse project.
2. Pirate Ship (I saw one of these earlier this summer, but was disappointed that I was continually being taken hostage. Go ahead and avoid this one if you can 🙂
3. Go the the Moon! (Sketching the planets and control system is big fun)
4. Fort or Castle (a little scissor work helps here)
5. Have a PARTY. Amanda Grace Weldon of Free Range Learning suggests a “Bring Your Own Box” party. Invite neighbors to bring a box and supply all the paints and tape necessary outside for everyone to create their own box masterpiece. What a brilliant way to build community and inspire creativity. More on the box party can be found here.
A little boredom plus a little cardboard can create childhood memories like those in this beautiful little film (from the Nokia Short Contest, 2011) — Enjoy!
The Adventures of a Cardboard Box from Studiocanoe on Vimeo.
Traci lives in the Austin, TX area with her husband and two little boys. You can visit her blog, Educated for Love, or see the visual daily rhythm charts she makes at A Kid’s Day.