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June 18, 2010 | 8 Comments

Fun and Learning with Boxes

by Kim

This game was a big hit with my 3 year old son. It evolved into so many things. I love activities like that. When your kids can take it in any direction they would like and they are still learning while playing, that is my kind of fun.

My neighbor sells jewelry in her spare time. She gives me the jewelry boxes after she hosts a party. Now if you do not have a neighbor that gives you jewelry boxes (which most of you don’t) you can always use different sized shoe boxes or even food storage containers from your kitchen. Anything that has a detachable lid.

Place your different size boxes out on the table. Put the lids near them, but make sure to not have them in the same positions as the boxes.

Have your child put the lids on the boxes. This is great for shape learning, deductive reasoning, and just plain out fun.

My son asked if we could put things inside the boxes. So I got items that were all different from each other. I grabbed a crayon, craft poms, a decorative marble, and a crumbled piece of paper.

I had him close his eyes while I put these items in different boxes. After he opened his eyes I asked him to figure out which item was in each box. I even drew a little sketch of the different items on a scratch piece of paper so he could remember what he trying to figure out. It worked great because he crossed through the items when he figured them out. It was fun to watch his techniques for figuring out which items were in which box. He would shake, he would tilt from side to side, and he would put one in each hand to compare the weight. I was really impressed. I told him to do whatever he needed to do to figure it out, but he couldn’t open the boxes.

After that fun, this turned into a building activity. The boxes were a city and the craft poms became tress and bushes, while the crayon was a man. I love a preschooler’s imagination!

Now don’t think this was just for preschoolers. My 21 month old got in on the action, too. She matched up the lids.

She shook the boxes to learn the difference between the sounds the different items made. I opened the boxes with her before and after she shook them. I had to be very careful about the poms and the marble. Those items required this activity to be a closely monitored one for her age.

Her learning also evolved. The boxes got stacked and made into a bed for her doll. Soon all of the boxes made there way into the backs of various dump trucks where they continued to be played with in many ways.

So start looking around your house for boxes and containers with lids. Watch and see where your kids take this activity. Then come back and let us know. I know I would love to read about it. 🙂

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Kim is a contributing writer for No Time For Flash Cards, a mom to a toddler, a preschooler, and a foster parent, too. She juggles her day by trying out fun activities and crafts with the kids. After all, she is just a big kid herself.

Filed Under: 5 senses, Age: Toddlers, Boxes, Matching Activities, Math Activities, Sense of Hearing, Sounds | 8 Comments

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8 Comments

  1. Patti says

    June 18, 2010 at 7:41 am

    My son (17 months) loves boxes! I never throw them away until he’s had a chance to see what he can put in them

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  2. Katy says

    June 18, 2010 at 8:32 am

    Kim, these are great ideas!
    .-= Katy´s last blog ..I am THAT Girl =-.

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  3. Amy says

    June 18, 2010 at 8:48 am

    Kim! What a fun activity. So nice to see you have another outlet to share all your fabulous ideas with us!
    .-= Amy´s last blog ..Addition to our washer fun =-.

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  4. kristen says

    June 18, 2010 at 1:53 pm

    boxes make the BEST toys ever!

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  5. Pippa says

    June 18, 2010 at 3:00 pm

    WONDERFUL!
    I love to see an adult sow a seed and watch as the children help it grow in to a wonderful game full of imagination and creativity. I had a similar momment this week. I have written about it in my blog if you fancy popping for a look.
    http://wormseye-view.blogspot.com/

    Well done! I look forward to seeing more of your blogs and will be re creating your idfeas at home!! XX
    .-= Pippa´s last blog ..An Ocean in the Playroom! =-.

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  6. Janna @ The Adventure of Motherhood says

    June 18, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    Oh man, its so good to see Kim’s post on here. I’ve been missing her blog and wondering about her. Glad she’s still being her fun, teacher mom self. Love you Kim!
    .-= Janna @ The Adventure of Motherhood´s last blog ..Mabel’s Labels Needs a Children’s Book about Organizing =-.

    to Janna @ The Adventure of Motherhood" aria-label='reply to this comment to Janna @ The Adventure of Motherhood'>reply to this comment
  7. Kim says

    June 18, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    Thanks for the feedback about the activity. Janna and Amy, thank you so much for the kind words and thoughts. All that love right back atcha. 🙂 I love Allie’s site and I feel so priviledged that she is gracious enough to let me write a little.

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  8. Stacey says

    June 19, 2010 at 10:48 am

    I love this idea!! Thanks for sharing! We will definitely be doing this one!
    .-= Stacey´s last blog ..I Need =-.

    to Stacey" aria-label='reply to this comment to Stacey'>reply to this comment

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