Cardboard - Page 5 of 33

Cosmic Pincer Star Weave

Steps:

Cut a large, sturdy square out of your cardboard using the scissors.
Use your markers to draw a large, bright star in the very center of the cardboard.
Decorate the area around the star with small planet and galaxy stickers.
Use the hole puncher to create a ring of holes all the way around the outside edge of your cardboard square.
Cut a long piece of yarn and wrap a small bit of masking tape around one end to make a stiff ‘needle.’
Tape the other end of the yarn securely to the back of the cardboard.
Challenge your child to ‘weave’ the shooting star by pushing the yarn through a hole from the back to the front.
Have them pull the yarn across the center star and push it into a hole on the opposite side.
Continue this crisscross pattern until every hole has been used and the star is caught in a colorful yarn web!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors or a hole puncher. Ensure the yarn length is safe for play and collected after the activity.

The Cardboard Box Pinball Goal

Steps:

Open the shoe box and remove the lid to create your play arena.
Cut small strips of cardboard from the lid to make bumpers.
Tape the bumpers inside the box at different angles using masking tape.
Cut a paper straw into three pieces and tape them down as obstacles.
Use your markers to draw point values like 10 or 50 on the bumpers.
Hold the box with both hands and place the ping pong ball inside.
Tilt the box slowly to roll the ball and hit every bumper target!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using scissors. Ensure the box edges are smooth to prevent any small scratches during play.

The Button Logic Grid

Steps:

Use a marker to draw a three-by-three grid on the cardboard.
Collect nine buttons in three different colors from your container.
You will need three red, three blue, and three yellow ones.
Explain that each color only goes once in every row.
Each color also only goes once in every column.
Place one button in a corner to start the game.
Ask your child to place the rest of the buttons.
Encourage them to check their work for any double colors.
Check the final work together to see if it is correct!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Buttons are a choking hazard for younger siblings.

The Fuzzy Pipe Cleaner Bridges

Steps:

Tape your piece of cardboard flat on the table so it stays in one place while you play.
Use the hole puncher to make two columns of holes down the cardboard, leaving space in the middle.
Ask your child to pick up a pipe cleaner and push one end into a hole.
Show them how to slide a few colorful beads onto the pipe cleaner one at a time.
Help them bend the pipe cleaner and push the other end into a hole on the opposite side.
Keep going until you have a row of fuzzy, beaded bridges across your cardboard!

Safety Tip:
Beads and pipe cleaner pieces can be small. Always watch your child closely to make sure they do not put any materials in their mouth.

Baking Cup Hidden Bubble Pops

Steps:

Glue five baking cups onto a flat piece of cardboard.
Cut five small circles of bubble wrap to fit inside the cups.
Place a small dab of glue at the bottom of each cup.
Press the bubble wrap circles firmly into the glue.
Ask your child to use only their pointer finger to pop the bubbles.
Challenge them to use their other hand to hold the cardboard steady.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child to ensure they do not put small pieces of bubble wrap in their mouth.