Boxes; Children's literature; Handicraft; Paper work; Toys
If you are playing with some other child, you will find that it is
amusing to divide your store of boxes, each choosing one at a time till
the supply is exhausted. Then, you may each see how many different
things you can build. It will be a game, and the winner will be the one
who can make the most with his store.
It is entertaining to play with box animals and box men when you have to
spend a day in bed. They may be placed upon a table near the bedside.
They are light to handle, and they require no cutting or pasting to muss
you up. If you decide to have measles or mumps, the little boxes may be
disposed of easily after you have played with them. You can always find
new ones to take their place when you are well again.
You may make a puzzle for yourself out of a large box and a number of
smaller boxes of varied size. Try to pack as many boxes as you can into
the large box. Make them come as evenly as you can in packing. There
will be _some_ space at sides, but with care and thought you will be
surprised to see how small a space they may be packed into. Try them in
various forms, till you are sure you have reached the best way to
arrange them. Then, give the box puzzle to some friend to see if he can
do with one or two attempts what you have accomplished. When you give
some person this puzzle, mix your boxes well so there is no clue to
their proper arrangement inside the larger box.
Toys like trains may be built with little more than a long cracker box
for a coach and some oblong box for engine. The engine’s smoke-stack is
a round box. Its coal-car is a cover taken from a candy box. Its wheels
are buttons or button molds placed on the ends of wire hair-pins that
have been pressed through the sides of the cardboard boxes. A bit of wax
or plasticine will keep the wheels in place.
Paste boxes to the back of your cut-outs when you buy these sheets at
the penny store. The Indians, cowboys, soldiers, and animals will then
stand erect by themselves.
[Illustration: A Toy Train that is built from boxes. Its wheels are
button molds.]
[Illustration: Cut-out Pictures may be made to stand when glued to small
boxes.]
You will have an interesting time, I am sure, in finding new ways to use
your boxes in this kind of play. It is always new, for you may always
find different kinds of boxes to adapt to the building. And the nice
thing about it is that you can make almost anything you choose.
[Illustration: A Noah’s Ark with cracker animals.]
[Illustration: A Savings-bank made to hold pennies. The pennies are
dropped down its chimney.]
I never knew before—did you?—
How much a cardboard box could do!
I can make buildings, now and then
I make some animals and men!
Indeed, it’s wonderful to play
With little boxes in this way!
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Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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