Did you know the Cardboard Box was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998?
My mom sent me a link to fridgeboxworld.com and I got so excited about it that I had to email the director, April Capil, and ask her to write an activity for us. She has founded a company that produces cardboard boxes especially for the purpose of imaginary play, and she explains, “I brought the cardboard box back via the cardboard-box-with-training-wheels, Fridge Box, as a way of being “green” and encouraging creativity and resourcefulness in the generation behind us. The cardboard box, of course, is one of the few toys made from recycled materials, that can also be recycled when you’re done with it!”
More from April:
“So, you’re sold on bringing back the cardboard box. Now what do you do? Well, start with a box, preferable a big one. It doesn’t have to be a Fridge Box; you don’t need to buy some McGroovy’s rivets (but you can!). Just start with a large empty box and ask your children what it looks like to them. Some may say, “Duh, a box,” but chances are, their imagination isn’t totally atrophied; it’s just been waiting for a workout. Ask them if they think that, together, you could turn this box into something else (if necessary, hit up Mr. McGroovy’s site for some fresh ideas). It’s good to start with a structure (a house or building) or a vehicle (like a train, truck, car, plane, spaceship, submarine, etc.), and let things evolve from there.If you have two or three boxes, even better - see if you can connect them somehow, like a series of boxcars on a track, or a mansion with “West” and “East” wings. Start adding to the box(es) using cutouts from magazines, glue sticks, markers, crayons - whatever you have handy. Feel free to cut out windows, doors, escape hatches… in a couple of hours, you can go to the moon and back in a cardboard rocket with your children - the only limit is their imaginations.
In closing, don’t be afraid your child will scoff at this lowly plaything made of brown kraft. The cardboard box is a favorite of children all over the world, and can provide hours of creative play with minimal costs and a minimal impact on the planet. Best of all, it builds skills that toys with more bells and whistles can’t - creativity and resourcefulness. And who doesn’t need more of that?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
When I was a kid for Christmas one year I received a cardboard space ship. It was the best, it was almost as tall as the ceiling. Used it for months. It was printed out on so that it looked like a space ship and stuff on the inside to. Thanks for the memory.
Perfect for the summer - can’t wait to try this!
One of my greatest memories as a kid is when my Dad built me what seemed like a mansion sized cubby house out of a seemingly enourmous cardboard box. Playing in that house is one of the most vivid memories I have of playing - way more than any ‘toys’!
Yes!!! The fridgebox box rocks!!!!! If you visit my site you’llse where I rave about April. Shoot, I’ve been using cardboard boxes for years as a teacher but April got it. We all need to get it! Yeah, April. So glad you found this.