Regular readers will know that we have recently moved house, finally able to make the move away from the city and into the countryside. This is a whole new adventure for us which we’re very excited about! An added bonus to moving house has of course been the great stockpile of cardboard boxes that we now have at our disposal to craft and play with!
Cardboard boxes have got to be our all time favourite craft and play resource!
Boxes spark, spark, spark children’s imaginations in such a wonderful way and can be made into just about anything!
So, don’t throw away those cardboard boxes….get busy creating with the children.
Here’s 45 top ideas to get you started with your cardboard box activities, arts and crafts for kids.
Scroll down to see cardboard boxes for:
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- Physical Play
- Dressing Up
- Imaginative Play
- Learning
- Arts and Crafts
- Baby and Toddler Play
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Cardboard Boxes For Physical Play
Encouraging children to move around is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and helps develop their gross motor skills. Here are some great cardboard box physical play ideas for indoors and outside, so there’s something for all weathers. 
1) Here Come the Girls have a super Cardboard Box Tunnel Slide that we can’t wait to try! 2) If your children aren’t keen to zoom down through a tunnel then you could try this simple Stair Slide version from Milk & Cuddles instead. 
3) Reading Confetti have a fantastic cardboard box Crazy Golf Course that will get the children developing their gross motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination in a really fun way. 4) What Do We Do All day have been practising their ball skills with a super simple Carnival Game. Such fun. 
5) How about this super homemade Marble Run from Craftulate. I love this idea. 
7) I can’t wait to try this Big Foot Races idea with my kiddies. Meaningful Mama has come up with an idea that I think is great for family games outside during the summer. Can’t wait!
Cardboard Boxes For Dressing Up
Children love dressing up and pretending to be all sorts of characters. I think lots of us have made robot costumes from cardboard boxes before but how about trying these more unusual ideas too? 
8) If you love the Norman the Slug book by Sue Hendra then you’ll simply adore this wonderful Norman the Slug Costume from Zing Zing Tree 
9) This Fairy Wing Craft from Red Ted Art is simply adorable isn’t it? 
10) One of our all time favourite costumes to make using cardboard boxes was this Knight’s Armour and Dragon Hobby Horse, it’s seen many hours of playful adventures. We hope you love it too.
Cardboard Boxes for Imaginative Play
Cardboard boxes are great for making all sorts of play items that can inspire children’s imaginative play. Here’s some of our favourites. 
11) Here’s a wonderful cardboard Dolls House from Red Ted Art. I love that this can be added to again and again over time. Who knows, you might end up with a mansion in the end!
12) Or rather than one house perhaps you’ll feel inspired to make a whole Cardboard Box City! Lemon Lime adventures has lots of great ideas for learning and fun while they made theirs.
13) Lets Play Music has been having lots of fun with a homemade cardboard Puppet Theatre and there’s a free printable too! 
14) Cardboard Box Tunnels can add a new and fun dimension to playing with trains or cars and Powerful Mothering shows you how. 
15) From being tiny tots my kiddies have loved Pretend Cardboard Cookers and this one is so easy and quick to make!
16) Playtivities have been having great fun making a car Racing Track out of their cardboard boxes.
17) You must go and look at the wonderful Sit On Play Train inspired by the Polar Express. Our Crafts N Things has done a wonderful job putting this together with cardboard boxes. 
18) Snotty Noses have been making a fun play Castle with their cardboard box and adorable little play figures to go with it. 
19) Let your kiddies get behind the wheel for some driving with Craftulate’s Cardboard Box Car. Brooooom!
21) Kitchen Floor Crafts have got lots of ideas for developing play and learning with a cardboard box Post Office.
23) Lalymom has made a super cardboard Car Dashboard that focuses on lots of fine motor development as well as imaginative fun. 
24 & 25) Crayon box Chronicles has a gorgeous Rainforest Small World Play Set and Farmyard Sensory Bin that will both inspire lots of hands-on exploration and learning. They really are quite lovely.
27) Perhaps your children are intrepid explorers? Are they brave enough to cross the final frontier? This Cardboard Space Shuttle from Mama Smiles is sure to get them reaching for their space suits to explore the unknown!
28) My children loved Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree stories and we made a few variations of the tree for their Playmobil to have fun in but I have to say I adore this version by Magic Faraway Tree from Mothers Messy Madness.
Cardboard Boxes for Learning
29) Playtivities have been learning to add with their Fun Maths Game. This could easily be adapted for different ages and abilities.
30) Teach beside me have created a really interesting Rollercoaster Board Game. Lots of fun for all the family and a great way to learn to count and take turns. 
31) ALLterNATIVE Learning have been learning all about facial features, our senses and good communication with their Learning Facial Features Activity. I think this would make a great cardboard box craft or self portrait project for older children too. 
32) I just love this wonderful idea from Simple Fun For Kids for developing Fine Motor Skills With Real Tools. Pop over to see how they’ve used screwdrivers, screws and raw plugs for some really valuable learning and fun.
33) Little Moments has a lovely post sharing the child led play and learning that can be inspired from a simple cardboard box. A great reminder to try and look at things through the eyes of a child.
34) Frogs and Snails and Puppy dog Tails has a great cardboard Learning Play Mat for exploring early letter recognition and counting.
Cardboard Boxes for Arts and Crafts
35) Simple Fun For Kids have got a wonderful Painting Inside A Box activity that will be sure to inspire all manner of creativity from your little ones. Serious Fun!
36) Gorgeous and simple Wool Heart Decorations from Zing Zing tree would make lovely gifts for friends and family.
38) Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails has a super idea for using cardboard for an Outside Art Station. Pop along to see what she did.
39) Do your children like construction toys like Lego? Then they’ll love these homemade Cardboard Stackers from Meaningful Mama. perfect for designing your own 3D sculptures.
Cardboard Boxes for Baby and Toddler Play
41) Meri Cherry has lots of wonderful ideas for Baby and Toddler Sensory Boxes. Your little ones won’t be able to resist getting really hands on exploring these.
42) Boxes can make great treasure chests and posting boxes for little hands to explore. Pop along to Kids’ Play Space to see how they created a Treasure Chest Of Surprises.
44) The Educators’ Spin On It have a great idea for turning the humble cardboard box into small Building Blocks for little ones to enjoy. They can be personalised with family photos or favourite colours etc.
I hope you have lots of fun getting creative with your cardboard boxes!