Don't Throw Away That Box!

We made a big day trip this past Sunday and by the time we got home, I had no energy left to set up and prepare for a day of home preschooling the following morning. I wasn't too worried about it--we would find a way to spend the day for sure and perhaps after a day of being stuck in the car and dragged to kosher grocery stores and restaurants, a day of play would be a good thing. And then I saw it, sitting unpretentiously on our front stoop. The holy grail of childhood rainy days and indoor play. A huge cardboard box! Actually, it was a huge cardboard box containing our monthly Amazon Subscribe & Save order and thanks to having two kids in diapers now, it arrived in a perfectly toddler sized box. "Don't throw away that box!" I instructed my husband as I foresaw a perfect Monday up ahead--with two freshly diapered tushies AND a giant box to provide hours of entertainment.



My toddler was so excited to see the big box in the living room the next morning, it was hard to get him (out of the box!) to eat his breakfast.

What is it about a box that is so inviting? I have my own childhood memories of amazing cardboard creations--from DIY costumes to a whole neighborhood of cardboard houses after we made a family move... And most parents have a memory (or two or three) of those early birthdays and holidays when our children were far less interested in our carefully chosen gifts than the boxes and wrapping they came in. This great article by the National Association for the Education of Young Children explains why this is from a developmental standpoint. That said, even well past my own early developmental stages, I still find a recycled box to be a treasure in the making!

 We began our adventure with some markers. For very young artists, a cardboard box can be a wonderful canvas that simultaneously invites and contains their creative expressions. If you're concerned about wandering marker strokes and painty handprints, a cardboard box is a great place to plop your little Picasso for some messy and artistic fun! You can even bring the activity outside to altogether avoid any indoor mess. (Bonus points if it's warm enough to hose 'em off before you come back in!) I helped cut a window on one side and position the box. My little artist wanted to share the fun and doodling and had some specific requests for commissioned work. He wanted a dog, two butterflies and flowers drawn on! From there, the experience took off entirely from his imagination as I watched in awe and nostalgia!

His box became an office (and yes, he's wearing a tie...)

...a shul...

...and throughout the day, a bakery shop, a snacking spot, a reading nook and a parking garage...

The options were as endless as his imagination and he was eager to return to it again today. Nowadays we have a plethora of amazing DIY ideas to do with something as simple as a cardboard box. Peruse Pinterest for a while and you'll find loads of amazing posts on the topic. And yet, very little is as simple and enjoyable as providing the most basic materials and letting your little ones take the lead. When a toddler's imagination travels outside the box, the results can hardly be contained! Our little house/office/shul/bakery/parking garage may not last so long before it makes its final journey to the recycling bin, but until then we will be happily playing. And after that, we can look forward to that next diaper delivery!