Here’s a TV you won’t mind your kids staring at for hours...a cardboard TV that is! When they’re in charge of the design, the programming, and the technology, it’s hard to see television as anything but educational. It’s not a flat-screen, but you can’t beat the price.
What You Need:
- Large cardboard box
- Large roll of white drawing paper (such as butcher paper or easel paper)
- Magic markers and crayons
- Paint
- Decorative materials (optional)
- Scissors or a craft knife
- Glue
What You Do:
- Remove the top of the box and discard. Set the box on its longest side, so the open part of the box is to the back.
- Cut a large rectangle from the front (the part facing you) of the box. This will be your television screen.
- Cut a slit on either side of the box long enough to accommodate the paper. You will be threading the paper through vertically.
- Decorate the cardboard TV by painting it and gluing on whatever decorative materials you might have handy.
- Unroll the paper and have your child illustrate a story on the paper, starting at the beginning of the roll. Try to be sequential (“Goldilocks is trying the porridge. Goldilocks is going upstairs”) but don’t worry too much about plot line at this point.
- Roll the paper back up again.
- Thread the beginning of the roll of paper through both slits in the box, with the drawing facing out through the box.
- To turn on the television, one child will have to stand on one side of the TV and draw the paper through the slits while a helper stands on the other side and supports the heavier roll of paper.
Now it's showtime! Invite friends and family to watch your child's creation, or have someone else operate the TV while your child enjoys their homemade television show!
Related learning resources
Make a Cardboard Box Dollhouse
Activity
Make a Cardboard Box Dollhouse
For most kids the fun is in the process, and making a dollhouse out of cardboard boxes is as creative as it gets! Here's how to make your own dollhouse.
kindergarten
Arts & crafts
Activity
Cardboard Bugs
Activity
Cardboard Bugs
Reuse and recycle cardboard tubes to make spooky spiders, kooky caterpillars, wacky worms, and more.
kindergarten
Arts & crafts
Activity
Tzedakah Box
Activity
Tzedakah Box
Make a Tzedakah box with your child to collect money for his favorite charity. This Jewish Tredakah box is a great way to teach your child about giving.
3rd grade
Arts & crafts
Activity
Lunch Box Sorting
Worksheet
Lunch Box Sorting
What goes better in a lunch box: a robot or a sandwich? Have some silly sorting fun with your kindergartener.
kindergarten
Math
Worksheet
Cardboard Playhouse
Activity
Cardboard Playhouse
...What You Need:
2 cardboard boxes
Scissors, or a box cutter with parental supervision....
kindergarten
Arts & crafts
Activity
Box Turtle Coloring Page
Worksheet
Box Turtle Coloring Page
This box turtle is just starting to come out of his shell. Have your child give him some colors that he'll be proud to wear.
kindergarten
Worksheet
Make a Milk Box Derby
Activity
Make a Milk Box Derby
Show your child how to "recycle" by making a milk box toy car. Here's how to get started.
kindergarten
Arts & crafts
Activity
Make Mom a Love Box!
Activity
Make Mom a Love Box!
Have the kids make Mom a wooden "Love Box" for Mother's Day (or any other day!) to show her how much she means to everyone.
kindergarten
Arts & crafts
Activity
Jack in the Box Connect the Dots
Worksheet
Jack in the Box Connect the Dots
Connect the dots from 1 to 22 to complete the picture of the jack in the box then color him in.
kindergarten
Math
Worksheet
Make a Puppet Theater
Activity
Make a Puppet Theater
In this arts and crafts activity, work with your preschooler to transform a cardboard box into a puppet theater and put on your own puppet drama.
kindergarten
Arts & crafts
Activity
Make a Shell Craft Treasure Box
Activity
Make a Shell Craft Treasure Box
Invite your kindergarten marine biologist to practice in scientific identification and categorization while creating a lovely treasure box.
kindergarten
Science
Activity
How to Make a Jewelry Box
Activity
How to Make a Jewelry Box
Show your kindergartener how to craft a pretty Mother's Day jewelry box that's fit for the baubles of a queen (or at least an extra special mom)!
kindergarten
Arts & crafts
Activity