Inside: These creative and fun cardboard box activities are ideal for all ages. After checking out these ideas you will never throw out another cardboard box again!

I am too excited for this post! I love using cardboard for activities. It is incredibly versatile and its absolutely free! I wrote this blog post thinking that I would add about 50+ ideas using cardboard boxes and I quickly realized that I would have to increase that number… by a lot!

There are just soooo many ways to use cardboard and I didn't even include cardboard tubes in my list!?

I have organized this truly amazing list of cardboard box activities into 3 sections:

  • Boredom Busting Cardboard Box Activities
  • Learning Activities using a Cardboard Box
  • Cardboard Box Arts & Crafts

RELATED… 65+ Toilet Paper Roll Activities and Crafts for Kids

Cardboard boxes make the BEST toys for kids! And this list will help you find all the best ideas to make the most your cardboard stash.

cardboard box activities and crafts for kids

Boredom Busting Cardboard Box Activities

  • Tugging Box Fine Motor Activity – Messy Little Monsters
  • Lipstick Board – Mom of the Galaxy
  • Cardboard Box Marble Run – The Pinterested Parent
  • Giant Nail Salon – Happy Toddler Playtime
  • Cash Register – The Maker Mum
  • If I Built a House" Preschool STEM Activity – From Engineer to Stay at Home Mom
  • Cardboard Car – Create_Make_and_Play
  • Pipe Cleaner Designs Activity by Toddler at Play
  • Cardboard Dinosaur – Recycled Craft DIY Toy for Kids – Chalk Academy
  • Writing Stencil – Happy Salt Folk
  • How to… Make A Cardboard Dolls House – Red Ted Art
  •  Tunnels and Streets by Celebrate Everyday with Me
  • Build a Cardboard Box Slide – Everyday Best
  • DIY Cardboard Space Shuttle + More Fun Space Activities for Kids – Mama Smiles
  • Incredible Cardboard Play Kitchen – MamArt Rawane
  • DIY Rainbow Tunnel – Playroom Stories
  • DIY Kids LightBox | Cheap Light + Sensory Play Ideas – A Day in Your Shoes
  • Construction Zone Sensory Bean Box for Toddlers and Preschoolers – Lorenay Lennox
  • Chick Treehouse – Inspire My Play
  • Cardboard Box Football or Soccer Themed Foosball Table – JDaniel4's Mom
  • DIY Cardboard Oven – Katy Ann pm
  • CARDBOARD BOX BUS Craft – Rainy Day Mum
  • DIY Washing Machine – Cardboard Kiddo
  • Cardboard Treehouse – The Hustling Mama
  • Simple DIY Cardboard Jetpacks – Fire Flies and Mud Pies
  • DIY Cardboard Play Shop – Mama Smiles
  • Cardboard Small World Set Up on Stairs – Create_Make_and_Play
  • Cardboard Box TV – Zero Waste Step by Step
  • Cardboard Box Paint and Wash with Water – Happy Toddler Playtime for Toddler Approved
cardboard box activities and crafts for kids
  • How to Make a DIY Pirate Ship – Red Ted Art
  • SUN CARDBOARD MARBLE MAZE GAME – Teach Beside Me
  • DIY Cardboard Screw Board – Simply Brea
  • DIY Mini Travel Game – Marble Maze & Tic, Tac, Toe – Artsy Momma
  • How to Make Skee Ball Game from Cardboard – Mom Brite
  • Bunny Haircuts – Today Our Children
  • DIY Cardboard Box Small World Play – Preschool Tool Kit
  • Cardboard Box Tunnels – The Imagination Tree
  • Cardboard Box Espresso Machine for Pretend Play – Woodlark
cardboard box activities and crafts for kids

Learning Activities using Cardboard

  • Upper and Lowercase Letter Matching with a Box – School Time Snippets
  • Cardboard Ice Cream Counting – Mom of the Galaxy
  • Recycled Colour Match – Cinta and Co.
  • Wash the Socks – a Fine Motor Activity for Toddlers – Days With Grey
  • ABC Box Stamping – Happy Toddler Playtime
  • Aiming for Maths – Happy Salk Folk
  • Shape Matching and Sequencing – Learn and Bloom
  • Peter Rabbit Shape Matching Activity – School Time Snippets
  • Tube Pattern Matching – Happy Toddler Playtime
  • DIY Color Match Game – Learn by Play at Home
  • Drive and Drop – Toddler Game at Home – Days With Grey
  • DIY Shape Finders – Create_Make_and_Play
  • Poker Chips and Cardboard Box – Happily Ever Mom
  • 100 Counting Box – Happy Toddler Playtime
  • Farm Animal Matching – All the Mumery
  •  Shape Matching Game by Diapers to Diplomas
  • Cardboard Box Magnetic Tile Puzzles – Happy Toddler Playtime
cardboard box activities and crafts for kids
  • Flower Counting – MamArt Rawane
  • DIY Ten Frame – Learn and Bloom
  • DIY Ball Drop Box for Babies – Taming Little Monsters
  • Letter Matching – 7 Days of Play
  • DIY Baby Activity Box – Danya Banya
  • Easy Book Drop Toddler Activity – Happy Toddler Playtime
  • Fine Motor Play with Screws and Anchors – Simple Fun for Kids
  • DIY Memory Board – Happy Toddler Playtime
  • Busy Box – Learn with Luca
  • MATCHING COLORS SENSORY BOX FOR TODDLERS – My Bored Toddler
  • DIY Pom Pom Counting Board – 7 Days of Play
  • Cardboard Magnetic Tile Puzzles – Cara_Florance
  • 10 Learning Activites with a Cardboard Box – A Crafty Living
  • Thread & Count – 7 Days of Play
  • Cardboard Car Ramps and Tunnels for Kids – Toddler Approved
cardboard box activities and crafts for kids

Get Crafty with Cardboard

  • Cardboard Box Guitar Craft
  • Cardboard Box Robot Craft
  • Easy Fire Truck Craft for Kids – Happy Toddler Playtime
  • Shaving Cream Sensory Play to Decorate the Cake – Days With Grey
  • Make a Cardboard Pizzeria – Handmade Charlotte
  • Art Studio in a Box – Fun Littles
  • A Simple and Beautiful Nature Craft – Little Pine Learners
  • Build Your Own Cardboard Castle Playhouse – There's Just One Mommy
  • Make: Stacking Collage Cardboard Castles – Barley and Birch
  • Painting in a Box – Simple Fun for Kids
  • Giant Cardboard Insects Craft – La Maison De Loulou
  • Rainforest in a Box – Fun Littles
  • Foldable, Collapsible Cardboard Superhero Hideout – Pink Stripey Socks
  • How to Make a Cardboard Helmet for a Costume – There's Just One Mommy
  • Cardboard Sculptures – Science Sparks
  • A Cardboard Box House – Say Yes
  • Throw Ball Splatter Painting by Blog Me Mom
  • Guitar Crafts for Kids by Fun Family Crafts
  • Butterfly Nature Craft – Early Years Outdoor
  • Mermaid Tail Craft – All the Mumery
  • Recycled Cardboard Painted Sea Life – La Maison De Loulou
  • Recycled Cardboard Theatre – Make-it-Your-Own
  • Cardboard Cake Craft – Mama.Papa.Bubba
  • DIY Cardboard Box Dinosaur – hello, Wonderful
  • Cardboard Box Easel – Art Bar Blog
  • Truck Painting: Fun Art Activity for Toddler – Happily Ever Mom
  • DIY Cardboard Tent Craft – Happy Toddler Playtime
cardboard box activities and crafts for kids