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Box car: a play idea for 3 year olds

Making something to play with, then playing with it, is creativity from start to finish. It takes about 20 minutes and uses a big cardboard box, crayons or markers, paper plates.

Checked October 29, 2026.

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How to play

Box car3 year olds · about 20 minutes

You need: a big cardboard box, crayons or markers, paper plates.

  1. Open the top and bottom of a big box so your child can stand inside.
  2. Decorate it together: paper plate wheels, crayon lights.
  3. Let your child drive around the house.
  4. Make a stop sign and a gas station for the trip.

Builds: thinking and problem solving and social and emotional. Making something to play with, then playing with it, is creativity from start to finish.

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