Kids do not need fancy toys. Give them a box and they are happy for hours. I love how imaginative and creative kids can be with just a stick and some dirt, or a large cardboard box.
One of the best things about shopping at Ikea is the great big cardboard boxes left over after you bring home that piece of furniture and assemble it. We recently brought home some Ikea furniture and had some great pieces of cardboard just waiting to become something new.
First we turned our boxes into a fort. We added some blankets and pillows, hung some string lights at the top, grabbed our lanterns, and had a fort. The boys sat and read books, played with their cars, and had a great time for days.
Next we turned the long boxes into a race track. We added some homemade road pieces for the starting and finishing lines, grabbed a bunch of cars, and zoomed them down the track. Again, HOURS of fun!
We also used our pieces of cardboard for painting practice. Just some paint brushes and water was all we used. My son got to paint with the water on the cardboard. As it dried he painted some more. Fun for him and no mess for me. Win-Win!
Whenever there is an empty box or bin laying around the kids almost inevitably climb in and ask to go for a ride. While its hard on our backs to reach over and push a small person in a box down the hall, its super fun for the boys and they LOVE it!
One time I took it one step further and painted the box to look like a car. My son loved it!
What have you done with your extra cardboard boxes? Share in the comments!