Cardboard Play Ideas by Age Group to Enhance Childcare

[Ages 0–2] Let’s play with a cardboard house

[Ages 0–2] A Cardboard House

If you combine big cardboard boxes to make a house, you can climb inside and play—it’s really fun.

Making furniture like a bed and TV, or creating doors and windows, makes it feel like you’ve got your very own home.

Boxes for lighter products like diapers or tissues tend to be thin, so try to use thicker ones if possible.

It’s also nice to share ideas with everyone and decide what to make together.

Draw pictures or paste paper to create your original house.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Role-play! Cardboard Crafts

Role-play! How to Make a Cardboard Craft “Horse Headpiece/Helmet”

This is a piece sold as a horse headgear kit, but since you can see a rough unfolded pattern in the video, I think it’s possible to make it yourself.

The official purchase page also offers a free template for the mane, so make use of that as you build.

Prepare some thin cardboard, draw the unfolded pattern, cut it out, and use a ruler or a scoring tool on the parts that will be mountain folds.

Have fun painting it with paints and expressing your own unique horse.

Once it’s finished, put it on your head and play by fully becoming a horse.

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sasashina

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Fun educational game

This is a simple indoor game where you gently stack colorful cardboard pieces—cut into shapes of foods kids love—onto a toilet paper roll using chopsticks or your hands.

Because it requires careful control of force, it helps develop fine motor skills, concentration, and recognition of colors and shapes.

You can use everyday materials! Even if pieces fall, it’s still fun, so children naturally experience cooperation and a sense of accomplishment as they play.

Kids with and without disabilities can enjoy it together, and you can adjust the difficulty with a bit of creativity.

It’s a gentle, handmade activity that even adults can get absorbed in.

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kepiko

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Cardboard mini car case

[DIY Cardboard Craft at Home!] A handmade town where you can play with Tomica mini cars! Transforms from a storage case, also using small items from Flying Tiger! Handmade toy Toy cars T’s Garage

Even tidying up is simple! Here’s an idea for a cardboard mini car case.

Many kids love toy cars like mini cars, don’t they? This idea is perfect if you’re thinking, “I want to make a road for cars to drive on and give it as a gift,” or “I’d be happy if it’s easy to take toys in and out.” It’s unique because when you open the storage case for the mini cars, it transforms into a townscape with roads.

Adding a handle makes it easy to carry, which is a nice bonus.

Definitely give it a try!

cardboard tambourine

@nobuhiro1139

Tambourinetranslation

♪ Original Song – Nobuhiro – ⛩️ OjiKura ⛩️

Fun to make! Here are some ideas for making a tambourine out of cardboard.

You’ll need cardboard, a compass, a pencil, a plastic sheet, craft glue, plastic bottle caps, beads, and vinyl tape.

It’s great that cardboard and bottle caps are easy to prepare at home or in preschool! Using familiar materials may also help foster an appreciation for taking care of things.

Be sure to try making one together with your child.