Tips for playing with everyday objects

Large cardboard boxes

On the Move: Cardboard boxes can become almost anything – a snowmobile, car, train or rocket ship! Help your child decorate the box however they choose. Have an older sibling push a younger sibling around the home to “drive” or “fly” the box. 

Cardboard Town: Open up/unfold the cardboard box. The child can draw or colour on the cardboard. If your child needs an idea, help your child draw “roads” on the cardboard. Use small cars or an empty match box as a “car” to drive around the roads. 

Sports: The box can become a basketball hoop, hockey net, or soccer net. 

Fort: If you have a few large cardboard boxes, tape them together to make a cozy fort for your child to play in. They can also decorate the walls by colouring them. 

Ramp: Build a ramp off of a coffee table or couch for balls or small cars to roll down. 

Smaller cardboard boxes (e.g. cereal boxes)

Robot Buddy: With your child, tape a few boxes together to make a robot. Help your child decorate it with eyes, nose and mouth.

You’ve Got Mail: Help your child decorate mail boxes for everyone in the home. Your child can make and deliver mail to people in your household. 

Cardboard Wrap: Cut out a small shape, such as a star, a pine tree or flower (about 5” across), and have your child wrap a large piece of yarn or string around it. Make new shapes to add variety. 

Doll House: Tape boxes together to make a doll house. 

Tower of Power: Use the boxes like blocks. See how high your child can stack the boxes before the tower falls over!

Yogurt containers

Put in Play: Cut a small opening in the top of the lid. Gather popsicle sticks, bread bag ties or any small object. Show your child how to put the small object into the container, then remove the lid, dump the objects out and start again!

Nature sort: Gather rocks, sticks or small pieces of driftwood. Notice how they are alike and different. Sort them into containers based on how they are similar or different.