When you plan a dressing up party theme, these structures made from cardboard will give hours of [...]]]>

Cardboard boxes are very popular with young kids as they can be turned into tunnels, taped together to form mazes and with a few odds and ends can be turned into cars, an aeroplane cockpit, counters and even buildings.

When you plan a dressing up party theme, these structures made from cardboard will give hours of pleasure to the young ones.

Counter: Use two large, sturdy cardboard boxes and place another long piece of cardboard across – the type that new fridges and cookers are packed in, are especially suited for counter tops.

The counter can be used for a store/shop theme, post office or even a hospital party theme (kids love to play doctor-nurse).

Aeroplane cockpit: Paint a large cardboard box in colour of choice or cover with coloured paper. Stick on a mass of knobs and dials from bottle tops, jars and tubes.  Turn the box into a rocket or space ship by covering it completely with heavy duty  foil.

Car: Paint or cover the cardboard box, add paper plate wheels and paint a number plate on card, attach to the ox. Use a sardine can key or any unused keys. Coloured tape makes good trim.

Houses and buildings: Cardboard boxes of assorted shapes and sizes can represent almost any type of building, such as a house, garage, farm or castle. Heavy duty foil can be used for the roofs of the buildings. Shoe boxes are especially useful  as they can be stacked to make bricks or to build a multi-storey doll house. Pipe cleaners, plasticine and playdough are good for making people, animals, furniture and vehicles.