Pretend play activities that combine imaginative play with crafts are our favorite things to do lately. Also our supplies are made up of many recycled and reusable materials. This can be done with boxes, wagons pretty much anything your child can sit in! When they are pretending go along with their suggestions and let them lead. It’s your turn to ask “Why?” and follow along. Most of all have fun.
- Gather your materials. We are using a laundry basket, some party streamers, a wrapping paper tube, some painters tape, pipe cleaners, a paper grocery bag, sticky back foam, markers and scissors.
- Start by having your child decorate the mast of the sail ( aka the wrapping paper tube) with markers and foam.
- While they are doing that , draw a sail on the inside of the grocery bag.
- Fold and cut two layers ( so the inside is facing out ) of sail.
- Decorate the sail with markers and foam.
- Tape the sail to the mast. I am using painters tape because my son likes the blue. Any tape will work.
- Decorate the boat. We weaved the party streamers in and out of the little holes on the sides of our basket.
I didn’t want anything sticky in the basket since my laundry does sometimes get put in it. 
- Attach the mast. I am using pipe cleaners wrapped around the tube and tied to the basket. Like I said above I didn’t want sticky tape residue on my basket. If you are using a box no biggie but this worked for us. I covered the sharp edges with painters tape which also won’t leave a residue.
- All Aboard! We played ferry boat, and the drink you see was part of our pretend play. I had to be the lady in the ferry cafeteria and make him a drink before he got back in his Honda and we docked. Hey it got some banana into him too !
Ashley says
I found my daughter doing this on her own just yesterday… sitting in the middle of the kitchen in a sterile tub, scooting along “in the water” on her “boat”. I just love watching her imagination. Next time, I’ll have to remember this idea and help her prolong the experience! 🙂
Trisha says
My guy plays in the laundry basket too. I think he’d be thrilled if we made a sail and a mast. One day we made a pirate flag and attached it to the back of a chair he was using as part of a pretend boat.
We are going to do the alien name craft from your other blog this weekend. I can’t wait!
Melissa says
What a great idea! We’re going stir crazy here in our house with the winter weather so this will be a fun activity
Muthering Heights says
I don’t think there’s a kid alive who wouldn’t LOVE that!!!
.-= Muthering Heights´s last blog ..The Best Part Of Snow =-.
katherinemarie says
ohhhhh what a JOY!!!!!!!! This is what learning fun is all about. I’m going to show this post to my son– he’ll flip!! Funny that I was just thinking I need to buy more laundry baskets for our daily LOADS– now I have a good excuse. :):):)
.-= katherinemarie´s last blog ..Last peek back… =-.
Amber says
I love this. And I’m sure both of my kids, would, too. I must find a suitable mast – hmmmm.
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Leashing the Baby =-.
Cathy at nurturestore says
When I was a little girl I used to crawl around the garden with my mum’s laundry basket on my back – I was a turtle of course!
.-= Cathy at nurturestore´s last blog ..Magic sauce recipe – get your kids eating vegetables =-.
marilyn says
Great idea! My kids love to make a ‘ship’ or ‘pirate ship’ by stretching a fitted King size sheet across two chairs that are about 3 feet apart from each other. The flag will be a GREAT addition to our imaginative play!
teachingwithsoul says
My MOPS and MOMS mommies will love this!
.-= teachingwithsoul´s last blog ..New Year,New You! Family First! =-.
katie Jo says
I just want to kick myself for not thinking of this adorable activity! terrific:)
The Princess and the Tot says
My kids play boat with our laundry basket almost every day! I’ve never thought to actually make a sail. What a fabulous idea! I may do this myself after they go to bed tonight and surprise them tomorrow!!
Elizabeth says
I use to put my little girl in her laudry basket and we would pretend it was a big pot of soup, and we were making “Caroline Soup”. I’d cut up pretend carrots, potatoes… and I’d shake the laundry basket to stir the soup, and pretend to taste it, add a little salt and pepper and she would just laugh and laugh!!