The Imagination Tree

Creative play and learning for kids

  • Home
  • Start here!
  • Welcome
    • About Me
    • Popular Posts
    • Play Challenge
    • Subscribe
  • Age
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Preschooler
    • School Age
  • Activities
    • Literacy
    • Numeracy
    • Creativity
    • Physical
    • PHSE
    • Science
  • Resources
    • Spaces
    • Toys
    • Books
  • Contact
  • Kindness Elves

Town-in-a-box small world play!

October 25, 2011 by Anna Ranson

You may remember when we had a HUGE cardboard box in the summer and I turned it into a play town for the girls to sit in outside? They loved it and it was great fun for a few days, but eventually had to go in the bin!

 We got a few smaller boxes last week and spent some afternoons playing along a very similar theme but on a smaller scale indoors. I flattened out a box and drew a simple roadway and town scene with crayons.

The girls were very creative about the toys that they added, including a huge pile of pebbles (from our Pebbles Discovery Box) for the construction workers to dig through and sort! As well as some smaller wooden blocks for “building houses and walls”, a slide for the park, fire engine for the station and plenty of play figures and vehicles!

It cost nothing, took 5 minutes to prepare and made for lots of creative, imaginative fun on a dreary, cold afternoon! Plenty more of those in the winter ahead, please!

Learning Links:

creativity: making up stories, using figures and materials in an imaginative way
literacy: storytelling through small world play, creating characters and dialogue
pshe: working together, sustaining interest and involvement in self-chosen activities
science/ KUW: talking about the jobs done by different people and related vehicles/ uniforms/ materials

Cakie: 37 months
Pop: 19 months

Related Posts

  • Cardboard Box Small World  PlayCardboard Box Small World Play
  • Natural Animal Small World PlayNatural Animal Small World Play
  • Fairy Garden Small World in a DrawerFairy Garden Small World in a Drawer
  • Autumn Woods Sensory Small World
  • Small World Play: Dinosaur Garden
  • Construction Site Gravel Pit

Filed Under: cardboard box, Creativity, Imaginative Play, Small World Tagged With: Small World Play

« Meet Colin Jackson and high five the Green Giant!
Golden Shimmer Dough! »

Comments

  1. Nicola says

    October 25, 2011 at 2:06 pm

    Oooh fab idea! My boys love cars, love cardboard boxes, so this would go down a treat with them!! Wishing I hadn’t thrown out the huge box that the TV came in now though! 😉

  2. Monica J @ Sofamilyonline says

    October 25, 2011 at 7:45 pm

    That’s fabulous! This is definitely something I would do. So, cool. Isn’t it amazing the things you can make with just the simple things laying around the house? I love it. I’m sure your girls had a blast and the creativity just goes wild. Fun!

  3. Alison says

    October 25, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    I have done this too with big flat boxes. The children love adding their own touches and buildings. Such great fun with a simple box

  4. Helen Bromley says

    October 26, 2011 at 2:48 pm

    These are great.Thanks for sharing. Do you know about storyboxes? I have been making them for about 17 years now.I have some photos on my Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/HelenBromleyTrainer#!/media/set/?set=a.214557678613553.54596.197403886995599&type=1

  5. Anna @ The Imagination Tree says

    October 26, 2011 at 11:14 pm

    Ooo Helen! Thanks SO much for commenting on my blog 🙂 I know you from your fab “50 ways” series and articles in EYE from my teaching days. I have looked for the likes of you and Roz Bailey, Sally Featherstone and Sue Palmer on FB pages before but not found you, so I’m very pleased to have now! Are any of them on there too?
    And yes I know about story boxes and love them!

  6. Sarah says

    October 27, 2011 at 2:00 am

    This is an awesome idea! A friend of mine just recently shared your blog with me…and I am loving all of your great ideas!

  7. Susan Case says

    October 27, 2011 at 2:09 am

    I LOVE your blog! Great ideas. When my daughter was in Kindergarten, we made a car from a cardboard box for her to wear in a parade. Lots of fun. Kids love tactile exploring through big media. You might be interested in my blog: Kindergarten for Teachers and Parents.

  8. Susan Case says

    October 27, 2011 at 2:12 am

    Guess it would help if I put my blog address: http://kindergartenbasics.blogspot.com/. I’m adding your blog to my favorites. Parents and teachers will love it! Thanks for helping children enjoy childhood.

  9. Helen Bromley says

    October 27, 2011 at 8:33 am

    Hi Anna – thanks for the lovely comments! I don’t think that the other folk that you mention are on Facebook. Sally has kind of retired and lives up in Yorkshire now. Strangely, I was working in her daughter’s Year 1 classroom earlier this term. Didn’t think I could really give her any ideas!!! I am desperate to do a blog – but finding it all a bit of a minefield – I really need a website too…..I haven’t had my professional facebook page very long, and my personal one had quite high privacy levels because i do use it for my ‘real life’. I am going to try and sort out some small world photos today! I now write for a company called Yellow Door – done some nice computer stuff with them, and this year have designed a set of Superhero Families, with teacher’s notes. Life’s good!

  10. wordplayhouse® says

    October 31, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    She is so absorbed in the creative fun you have made for her. I especially love that she put her own creative additions to the play. Her pebbles were a wonderful addition.

The Imagination Tree on FacebookThe Imagination Tree on TwitterThe Imagination Tree on PinterestThe Imagination Tree on G+RSS feed from The Imagination TreeThe Imagination Tree straight to your inbox

Search The Imagination Tree

About The Imagination Tree Hello and welcome! I'm Anna, Mama of 4, early years teacher and play enthusiast from the UK! Click here to read more about me.

The Kindness Elves Store
Play Ideas on The Imagination Tree

Create with The Imagination Tree

Makes on The Imagination Tree

Sign up for our FREE emails:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT