Cardboard - Page 3 of 32

The Balancing Cardboard Bird

Steps:

Draw a large bird shape on a piece of cardboard with your markers.
Make sure the bird has wide wings that curve forward past the beak.
Use your scissors to carefully cut the bird shape out of the cardboard.
Place one coin on the very front tip of each bird wing.
Use masking tape to secure the coins firmly to the cardboard wings.
Hold the bird by the body and rest the beak on your fingertip.
Watch as the bird balances perfectly in the air without falling!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when using scissors. Coins are a choking hazard, so keep them away from younger siblings who might put things in their mouths.

The Drawbridge Pulley Master

Steps:

Get a small cardboard box and cut a rectangular door on one side.
Leave the bottom of the door attached so it flips down.
Poke two small holes at the top of the door.
Poke two more holes near the top of the box frame.
Thread a piece of yarn through the door and the box.
Tape a paper roll horizontally to the top of the box.
Tie the yarn ends to the paper roll.
Ask your child to twist the roll to lift the door.
Use a paper clip to clip the yarn to the box.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required for using scissors to cut the cardboard. Ensure the yarn is stored safely after play to prevent any entanglement risks.

The Masking Tape Spoon Scraper

Steps:

Start by sticking several long strips of masking tape onto a flat piece of cardboard.
Press the tape down very firmly so it is flat and tight.
Give your child a sturdy spoon to use as their scraping tool.
Ask them to use the edge of the spoon to lift the tape.
Encourage them to peel every piece of tape off the board completely.
Have them use their other hand to hold the cardboard steady while they work.
Finally, they can crumple the sticky tape into a ball to finish.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using the spoon to ensure it is used safely.

The Hidden Meadow Rescue

Steps:

First, grab a piece of cardboard to use as your meadow floor.
Draw a few colorful bugs on the board with your markers.
Cut your green tissue paper into several long, thin strips.
Glue the bottom end of each strip to the cardboard base.
Let the top of the paper flop over to hide your bug drawings.
Place some colorful buttons or stickers underneath the tissue paper grass.
Invite your child to go on a bug hunt in the meadow!
Show them how to lift the grass with one hand while the other picks up a button.

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: This activity uses small buttons and stickers. Always supervise your toddler closely and ensure they do not put these items in their mouth.

The Upright Clip Fence

Steps:

First, cut a rectangular piece of cardboard to use as your sturdy base.
Lay a long strip of masking tape across the cardboard with the sticky side up.
Secure the ends of the tape so the strip stays perfectly flat.
Use your markers to draw a winding path directly onto the sticky tape.
Hand your child the tweezers and a pile of colorful paper clips.
Challenge them to pick up a clip and press its narrow edge onto the tape.
They should follow the marker line until the path is covered with standing clips.
Once finished, they can use their fingers to pluck the clips off.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small paper clips are a choking hazard, so keep them away from younger siblings.