Kid Activities, Crafts and Printables for Fun Learning and Creativity

50 + Clever Cardboard Box Boredom Buster Kids Activities

Check out this collection of creative cardboard box ideas that will have your children playing in no time. It’s the ultimate inexpensive way to beat boredom.

Whether you have one box or tons of boxes, this list of activities will give you something fun to do with them. I love how each idea will spark their imaginations and provide hours of creative play. Sometimes all you need is a box!

Clever Cardboard Box Boredom Buster Kids Activities: Entertain the kids with these 50+ cardboard box activities (#kidsactivity #crafts #boredombuster)

I divided the 50+ activities up into three categories: Play, Craft, and Learn.

Since making something out of cardboard is always a bit crafty, I’m sure they could all cross over into a different category. Some highlights are cardboard animal crafts, alphabet learning box, and cardboard box castles, cars, and boats. I’m sure you and your little one will find a whole bunch of things to do with your box before it gets thrown out in the garbage.

Check out all our Play Ideas Here

Each idea features a picture below, followed by a link to the directions. 

Cardboard Play Activities

Clever Cardboard Box Boredom Buster Kids Play Activities: Entertain the kids with these 50+ cardboard box activities (#kidsactivity #crafts #boredombuster)
DIY Cardboard Minature Playground - Small World Play - Learning project with kids with Grimms wood dolls

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Playground for Toys by Chalk Academy

Create cardboard jetpacks for kids for imaginative play! | Fireflies and Mud Pies

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Jet Pack by Fireflies and Mud Pies

How to Make a Cardboard Box Car Ramp: It’s an easy recycled DIY project for kids to play with (#kidsactivity #toycars #cardboardbox)

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Car Ramp by A Little Pinch of Perfect

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Stuffed Animal House by Toddler Approved

How to Make a Cardboard Box Marble Labyrinth

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Marble Run by Frugal Fun 4 Boys

Cardboard box roadster to make for kids pretend play

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Car by Preschool Tool Kit

A DIY Cardboard Kids' Washing Machine - It is great for pretend play or a part of a learning activity for kids.

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Washing Machine by JDaniel4smom

Colorful recycling craft buildings for a recycled town project. A fun DIY kids craft toy made out of recycling #recycling #kidscrafts #colorful

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Town by Box of Ideas

Make a cardboard box dinosaur and have a prehistoric adventure! A fun craft for kids who love dinosaurs.

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Dinosaur by Adventure In a Box

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Nail Salon by Happy Toddler Playtime

Cardboard Kids Kitchen Tutorial

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Play Kitchen by Artsy Momma

make a box tunnel

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Tunnel by Picklebums

Upcycled Shoebox Dollhouse | Mama Papa Bubba

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Dollhouse by Mama Papa Bubba

Space activities for kids

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Space Shuttle by Mama Smiles

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Box Town by The Imagination Tree

Full Cardboard Train front view

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Train Box by One Time Through

DIY Cardboard Stackers - Homemade Building Toys for Kids

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Stackers by Meaningful Mama

Make Your Own Cardboard Butterfly Wings from Fun at Home with Kids

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Butterfly Wings by Fun at Home with Kids

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Castle by DIY Inspired

penny spinners

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Spinners by Teach Beside Me

montesori cardboard cuout puzzle activity

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Rainbow by Active Littles

Make a cardboard car wash from a box. DIY cardboard toy for kids. Learn how to make it waterproof so kids can actually play with water. Fun summer activity. | at Non Toy Gifts

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Car Wash by Non Toy Gifts

Noahs-Ark-Box-Craft-10

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Boat by Craft Train

This cardboard set of play market food is an easy DIY, a great way for kids to learn about food, and looks SO adorable . | via barley & birch

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Play Food by Barley and Birch

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Barn for Toys by See Vanessa Craft

Cardboard-Skee-Ball-Game-13

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Skeet Ball Cardboard Box DIY by Mom Brite

fine motor activity for toddlers

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Washing Machine Activity by Days with Grey

DIY cardboard airport toy to make for kids. | at Non Toy GIfts

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Airport by Non Toy Gifts

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Light STEM by True Aim Education

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Store by Chalk Academy

sun marble maze game

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Marble Maze by Teach Beside Me

carboard slide

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Slide by Everyday Best

Cardboard Box Ramps Race - DIY Toy for Hot Wheels Cars

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Ramps Race by Frugal Fun for Boys

Cardboard Craft Activities

Clever Cardboard Box Boredom Buster Kids Activities: Entertain the kids with these 50+ cardboard box activities (#kidsactivity #crafts #boredombuster)
CARDBOARD OWL FOX HEDGEHOG WOODLAND ANIMAL CRAFT

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Woodland Animals Cardboard Crafts by Hello Wonderful

cardboard dinosaurs

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Dinosaurs by Powerful Mothering

Two cheerful cardboard photo frames decorated with tissue paper, pasta and flowers

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Frame by Red Ted Art

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Bus by Here Comes the Girls

quick and easy way to make your own table easel with cardboard

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Art Easel by The Art Bar

How to Weave an Adorable Cardboard Llama- Such a fun and easy way to introduce weaving to kids

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Woven Llama Craft by Pink Stripey Socks

Your preschooler will love creating beautiful artwork with rubber bands and paint!

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Rubber Band Splatter Painting by Hands on as we Grow

Cereal Box Aquarium Project Ideas

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Box Aquarium by The Best Ideas for Kids

kids drawing in a box

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Art Studio by Fun Littles

Easy cardboard animals

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Animal Cardboard Craft by Red Ted Art

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Car by A Little Pinch of Perfect

repurpose-cardboard-into-an-owl

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Owl by Budget 101

cardboard box train

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Train Toy by Kids Activities Blog

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Truck Painting by Happily Ever Mom

Recycled milk carton birdhouses and bird feeders are a fun quick and easy kids craft that anyone can make! Perfect for kids of all ages!

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Birdhouse by Happiness is Homemade

Cardboard Learning Activities

Clever Cardboard Box Boredom Buster Kids Activities: Entertain the kids with these 50+ cardboard box activities (#kidsactivity #crafts #boredombuster #preschool)
upper and lowercase matching letters

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Letter Box Activity by School Time Snippets

Use recycled materials to DIY your own super hip cardboard shape puzzle! A perfect learning toy for toddlers.

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Shape Puzzle by Barley and Birch

indoor hopscotch made with painted cardboard pieces and beanbag

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Hopscotch by Happy Hooligans

color sorting pom pom activity for toddlers

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Color Sorting Pom Pom Activity by School Time Snippets

Fine motor activity

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Tug and Pull Box by Messy Little Monster

Make Your Own Solar Oven S'mores

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Cardboard Box Solar Oven by Nourishing My Scholar

All Done Playing Our Car Parking Numbers Game - Craftulate at B-InspiredMama.com

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Car Number Parking Game by B-Inspired Mama

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Feed the Shark by Toddler Approved

jumbo cardboard blocks - Build with Letters

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Build with Letters by No Time for Flashcards

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Counting Box by Happy Toddler Playtime

recycled play to learn activities

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Alphabet Recycled Play by Active Littles

FIND THE DIRECTIONS HERE:

Shape Box by A Little Pinch of Perfect

Keep the Fun Going:

How to Make Chalk Bombs out of Sponges: An ultimate art experience for kids for sidewalks or paper (#summerfun #kidsactivities #boredombusters #kidsart)

Chalk Bombs

Magnet Time Small World

DIY Bouncing Bubbles Recipe: An easy recipe to make using sugar, water, and soap for lots of fun with the kids (summer, outside, play)

Bouncing Bubble Recipe

Clever Cardboard Box Boredom Buster Kids Activities: Entertain the kids with these 50+ cardboard box activities (#kidsactivity #crafts #boredombuster)

Filed Under: Boxes, Imaginary Play, Kindergarten, Learn Through Play, Play, Preschool, Round Up

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  • These little bugs took no time at all to make and are a pretty self-guided craft for kids. Little Tiger finished chopping potatoes while helping me make dinner and found our bags full of lids on the counter (3 bags to be exact–no lid gets left behind in our house :). Before long I looked over and there were 3 bugs staring back at me and no mess in sight! Since the little bugs sitting on my counter make me smile when I look at them I thought you should have some too.
  • This activity helps kids learn to count to 100, introduces them to place values, helps with number recognition and number relationships while allowing them to be actively involved as they learn instead of just staring at a chart with lots of numbers which can be overwhelming.
  • We love stars around here so naturally one of our favorite things that live in the ocean is starfish aka sea stars. They come in all different shapes, sizes, and textures so we have provided you with a free craft template to make a big, medium, and small size starfish craft with your kids. We also show you how to take your craft to the next level by giving it texture and folding it to give it dimension, and if you want you can give it added color with paint. Each one will turn out amazing!
  • When this sunset Tissue Paper Craft is hung in a window it magically seems to glow resembling the beauty of a real sunset on the horizon. No glue or scissor skills are required, so this craft is easy to clean up and perfect for kids of all ages!
  • One of the most beloved children’s authors has to be Dr. Seuss who happens to have a birthday coming up on March 2nd. Did you know he wasn’t technically a doctor?– but that’s okay we still love him anyways! To start celebrating my kids picked out Horton Hears a Who!
  • The set comes in a print-in-color or a color-me (coloring book) version. You can print the set out and assemble it, or extend this activity further by letting your students color their own spinner increasing their recognition of each picture.
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