A Humble Box
If you ask me, a humble box has to provide some of the best free entertainment you can get. Kids of all ages love to play in them, on them and with them. We’ve had loads of fun lately with a big empty box, and it’s been interesting to observe the different play that happens at different ages.
My ten month old has loved exploring the box itself. He has pushed it around the house like a walking frame, crawled in and out of it, had rides in it, delighted in finding his sister hiding inside it, and of course nibbled the edges to see how it tastes.
My three year old’s play has been much more creative. After decorating the box (she’s such a girl) she wanted it to “be” different things. She stopped seeing the physical box itself, and started seeing with her mind’s eye. The box became a house, or a bed, or a boat. Reading “Harry’s Box” (by Angela McAllister) together took her imagination a step further, and the box became a shop, and a lion’s den!
As a teacher I never tired of watching little minds and imaginations grow. As a mother I am just delighting in watching this process unfold in my own kids. I can’t wait to see what they will do with a simple box at age five, or eight. Actually, perhaps I can. We live on a steep slope…
What ages are your kids, and what are they likely to do with a humble box?
Im sure you can imagine my kids delight at our recent move. Boxes of all shapes and sizes in every room of the house.
My 9 and 11 year olds still love playing with boxes. The box from our new tv became a house complete with door, windows, letterbox (smaller box added to big box) and a light (small torch taped to the ceiling of the box/house).
I have a large box full of MOPS bags for conference which my 11 year old keeps asking me when I’ll be finished with it!! Not sure what she is planning but I’m sure it will be interesting.
I agree the humble box is the best and cheapest toy ever.
My youngest loves to play Jack in the Box, and the last box he made into a boat, then a submarine – he stuck buttons and plastic plates to is for the controls.
My older girls don’t play with big boxes anymore, but enjoy decorating shoe boxes to make homes and hotels for their soft toys.
George, the cat, is probably our biggest fan of cardboard boxes – he will try to sit in one, no matter how small it is!
My kids (5, 8 & 10) still love to play with boxes. My youngest turns all containers/boxes into train carriages or trucks.
“Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis is another great box book to stir the imagination.
My 14-month old likes to climb up and sit on top of boxes, and he also enjoys putting things inside a box then retrieving them and throwing them out, and pushing the box around the floor!