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Simple cardboard boxes and a few craft supplies can provide hours of fun at a kid’s birthday party. These are activities that all participants can enjoy equally rather than competitive games with just one winner. Here are just a couple of ideas to get you planning.
Begin by bringing together cardboard boxes of varying shapes and sizes. Large ones are particularly versatile. Other good items to use are:
scissors
strong tape
string/yarn
glue
pens
poster paint
glitter
Blu tack (or similar)
leftover wrapping paper
markers
stickers
pom poms
pipe cleaners
Note that these activities do require a reasonable amount of room, so clear a large area or consider moving outside if the weather is nice.
Neighborhood Houses
Using large boxes (ones that a new appliance may come in), have the kids cut out windows and doors to create a basic “house.” Let them use paints and markers to decorate the exterior. Cut the top and bottom off a box and then cut across diagonally to create two “v” shapes. These shapes can be attached to the box as the roof of the house. Or you could just draw a v-shaped roof onto one of the sides of the box as shown below.
Finally, line up the “houses” to create a street. Perhaps the kids would like to include a butcher shop, a supermarket, and a hairdresser. Then each child can take turns visiting the different buildings.
The older the kids, the more elaborate the miniature town will be.
Giant Castle
Rather than the party guests building individual houses, you may want to join them together to make one big castle instead.
Large boxes can be cut down one side and opened out, then join together several to make a big castle. Windows can be cut in the sides. And rather than a roof, the children can cut out turrets and ramparts.
If you would rather skip all of the cutting, try using this premade castle. Kids will still have a ball coloring and decorating it all up.
Kiddy Armor
Using medium-size boxes, make armor for the kids to use. First cut off the bottom and top of the box so that it will go over the child’s head. Make sure it is roomy enough for them to walk in. Attach two lengths of string from front to back to make shoulder straps or cut holes in the sides where their arms can go through. The child should be able to move around easily in their new armor.
Children can decorate their new armor with grey metallic paint (a coat from a spray can is very quick and easy), or they may prefer dazzling it up with glitter.
They can also make swords and shields from the cardboard if they so prefer.
Animals
It is easy to create animals using cardboard boxes. Use the same principle as used to create the armor, but rather than paint it metallic grey, paint the box with the required spots or stripes of the animal. A zebra, for example just requires a few black stripes on a white background.
You can use a piece of string or pipe cleaners for the tails. Then have the children march in a zoo parade to show off their animal skins!
There are so many uses for simple cardboard boxes. Kids could even make boats, cars, rocket ships. And using boxes as a fun art activity during a birthday party is a great way to get kids engaged. There are no winners or losers with these fun activities!
If you do want to have games to play as well, check out these Easy and Fun Games For A Child’s Birthday Party!
