Magic of Play – Boxes of Fun

Here are a few ideas to get you started and you can also have fun thinking of your own “box” ideas.

The first time you introduce each box, you will teach your child how to use the items.  After several times, they may learn how plus add a few more ideas of their own!

Relax and be open to the ‘magic’ of play.

1. A box of dress-ups – it’s always fun to try on mom and dad’s clothes, shoes, hats, purses, vest, etc.
2. Find small containers that your child will have to work at a little bit to open. Have a treat inside.
3. A box of musical instruments – a large can or oatmeal box for ‘drums’; pots and a wooden spoon make a great noise, bells, whistles, and flutes. Have a marching parade throughout the house.
4. Sensory box – beads to run through your child’s fingers, different types of fabric (fur, silky, rough like burlap, etc.) Squeeze balls, scented items, pin wheels, soft chimes – think of all the senses.
5. Box of craft items – put some items out and see what your child comes up with. If he/she does not know what to do – you start with, “Look, I’m using glue to stick the picture on the paper.”  Look around the house for colored wrapping paper then cut it into strips and shapes.  Include a glue stick, colored pencils/crayons, sticker, and sparkly items.
6. Play-dough box – small dowels for rolling pins, cups, and cookie cutters to make shapes, actually anything to press into playdough for shapes.
7. “Heavy” box – bean bags to throw into a laundry basket, 2 liter bottles filled with water (glue on the lidsJ) to load in and out of a wagon or cart or use for bowling or laying a bottle flat on the floor and roll it back and forth to each other.
8. Ball box – different sizes and weight of balls – toss into a target (lie a box or laundry basket) – hand a beach ball from a tree branch and use a foam ‘noodle’ (like the ones used in pools) cut in half or thirds for a bat. Having different sizes of weights of balls and aiming for different targets helps to develop motor planning.  
9. Shopping day – put out grocery items and/or clothes throughout the room and have your child put desired items in their cart. You can help with ‘checkout and bagging’.
10. Presents – collect a variety of small boxes and put a treat (food or toy) in each box and use scraps of wrapping paper to wrap them with. Pull out on a trip in the car, waiting at the doctor’s office, at the grocery store, etc. And let them spend a few minutes unwrapping their presents.  Not only fun but works on finger strengthening.