As the festive season approaches and shopping for gifts begins, we can be tempted by the latest toys, gadgets, and games. But it is important to remember that you don’t need to spend lots of money (or any money at all) to support healthy child development through the power of play. Let’s celebrate the power of the humble cardboard box!
We have all seen it happen – the gift quickly discarded as the box becomes the centre of attention! To adults, a box might seem like packaging. To a child, it’s a world of possibility. A spaceship heading to the North Pole, a sleigh for reindeer, a shop selling Christmas treats, or a cosy den to hide away in — all from the same piece of cardboard.
This is where the concept of affordances comes in. Affordances describe the possibilities for action that an object offers. A cardboard box affords endless types of play because it has no fixed purpose — it invites imagination, experimentation, and transformation.
In terms of play types, a box can support them all:
- Creative play, as children decorate it with crayons, wrapping paper or tinsel.
- Dramatic play, acting out Christmas stories or pretending to deliver gifts.
- Locomotor play, climbing in and out or pushing the box across the floor.
- Exploratory play, discovering how it bends, folds, or stacks.
- Social play, working together with siblings or friends to build or imagine.
While shiny new toys often come with instructions, the best play happens when children decide the rules themselves. A cardboard box encourages that kind of free, self-directed play — the kind that builds confidence, creativity, and joy.
So, this Christmas, when the unwrapping is done and the living room is full of boxes, take a pause before recycling. Offer a few to your children and watch their imaginations take flight. The best toy this festive season might just be hiding in plain sight.
More Play Ideas
Share:
