Need the best crafts with cardboard boxes? If your house is anything like mine, it’s always filled with cardboard boxes of all shapes and sizes.
Instead of tossing them out, why not transform them into something magical and fun with these EASY and low prep activity ideas?
Not only are these crafts fun, but they also support fine motor development, hands-on learning, and boost creativity. So, grab some scissors, tape, and paint, and let’s let the kids get crafty!
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1. Shoe Box Diorama Craft with Cardboard Boxes: Creating Miniature Worlds
This is one of my favorite ways to use a cardboard box! Dioramas are perfect for sparking imagination and teaching kids about different environments. Whether your child loves farms or zoos, creating a diorama can be both fun and educational.
Materials
- Here’s what you need!
- Shoe box
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Small toy animals or farm/zoo figurines
- Markers or crayons
- Paint (optional)
- Cotton balls (for clouds or sheep)
Instructions –
1. Choose a Theme: Ask your child whether they want to create a farm scene, zoo scene, or maybe another setting entirely! It can also be fun to create the setting of their favorite book!
2. Background and Base: Then, cut construction paper to fit the inside of the shoe box. Additionally, you can invite kids to create a sky, grass, or any background elements, and glue them in place. This step is great for developing fine motor skills as kids cut and paste small pieces.
3. Decorate: Invite your child to draw or cut out additional elements like trees, ponds, barns, or cages. If they want, they can paint the inside for more vibrant colors. These actions support both fine motor development and creativity.
4. Populate Your Scene: Then, kids can choose small toy animals or figurines for the diorama. You can also craft simple animals from paper or clay together. Handling small items helps refine both dexterity and coordination, and playing in the diorama supports creative play!
5. Add Details: Use cotton balls for fluffy clouds or sheep, and also get creative with other small decorations like pebbles for a pathway or twigs for trees. This step enhances their attention to detail and creativity.
This activity not only nurtures artistic skills but also offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about farm life or the different animals found in a zoo. It’s an engaging way to combine play with education.
2. Cardboard Box Skyscrapers Craft: Build a City
Transforming ordinary cardboard boxes into towering skyscrapers is a blast! This project is perfect for kids who love building and creating their own little cities.
- Materials Needed:
- Various sizes of cardboard boxes
- Painter’s tape
- Paint
- Paintbrushes
- Markers or stickers
Instructions:
1. Stack and Tape: Firstly, gather boxes of different sizes and let your child decide how to stack them to create skyscrapers. Then, secure the boxes with painter’s tape, which is easy for kids to handle. This stacking process promotes both spatial awareness and problem-solving skills.
2. Design: Once the skyscrapers are stable, it’s time to paint, color, and decorate! Let your little ones use their favorite colors to bring their buildings to life.
3. Details: Finally, after the paint dries, invite kids to add windows, doors, and other features using markers or stickers.
Skyscraper building is a great summer activity to do outside! Looking for more outdoor activities?! You will love 65+ Outdoor Activities!
3. Crafts with Cardboard Boxes – Box Decorating
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most entertaining. A large cardboard box can become a blank canvas for endless possibilities. Whether it’s tracing body shapes, drawing a giant road map, or just creating art, the options are limitless.
- Materials Needed:
- Large cardboard box
- Scissors
- Markers, crayons, or paint
- Decorative items (stickers, glitter, etc.)
- Tape or glue
Instructions:
Step 1: Prepare the Box by cutting the box open so it lies flat. Make sure there are no sharp edges that could hurt little fingers.
Step 2: Ideas for Decorating
Body Tracing: Then, have your child lie down on the flattened box and trace around their body. Last, let them decorate their traced figure to look like themselves or any character they imagine.
Given that this activity combines creativity and self expression, it’s a great option for crafting with littles!
Cardboard Road: Also, you can create a fun play mat by drawing a winding road or cityscape on the box. After that, add houses, trees, and cars for a complete scene where toy cars can zoom around. Drawing and creating this scene nurtures their imaginative play and planning skills.
Giant Canvas: Additionally, you can let your child’s creativity run wild by using the box as a giant canvas. They can paint, draw, or glue on decorative items to create a masterpiece. Using a variety of art supplies helps develop their fine motor skills and artistic expression.
Box decorating is a fantastic way to let kids express their artistic side while also repurposing materials. It’s an open-ended activity that can be as simple or elaborate as your child desires.
Conclusion
All in all, these crafts with cardboard boxes are a wonderful way to engage your kids in creative, hands-on activities that spark their imaginations.
These projects are easy to set up and provide a fun, sustainable way to use up all those boxes accumulating in your home.
Plus, each activity supports fine motor development, hands-on learning, and boosts creativity, making it a win-win for both parents and kids. So, the next time you find yourself with a spare cardboard box, remember these ideas and get ready for some creative adventures with your little ones! Happy crafting!
Looking for another cardboard craft! Try this cardboard parking lot – details here!
Looking for next level cardboard crafts?! You will love these advanced cardboard art projects from Happy Bankky Crafty Mom!!