This is a fabulous toddler and preschooler activity that will cost you nothing to make. Create a simple cardboard Drop Box yourself, using items you already have around your home! You’re gonna love it!
With the last week of summer holidays wrapping up, I really should be organizing school supplies, and pulling my house back together after doing a bare minimum of house-work these past 2 months. Instead, I immersed myself in this little project, and I must say I am SO looking forward to presenting it to the Hooligans!
I was first inspired to make this when I saw pictures of the drop box that Play at Home Mom had made.
Here’s what I did:
I started with a good sized box, some Sharpies, a paper cutting knife, and a few objects for dropping. I would think of more “drop-ables” as I worked away.
I started by cutting holes for the foam shapes, and outlining with the sharpies. That area will be fun for a little match and drop area. Then I grabbed a handful of paint chip samples, and cut slits in the box, and outlined the slots with 8 different colours. The paint chips are various shades of each colour, so the Hooligans will have to decide which colour family each paint chip belongs to.
Next, I drew upper and lower case letters on “popsicle” craft sticks, and made a small drop slot for each one. On the backs of the sticks, I drew coloured circles, squares and triangles, for the little ones who don’t yet know their letters.
I picked out several coloured blocks from our block bucket, and drew corresponding shaped and coloured holes for those to be dropped through.
And the final activity was numbers. A few dominoes and numbered holes will encourage counting and matching.
When I was finished, I cut 2 holes to sink a couple of containers into. The box wasn’t big enough for any more than 2. It would have been nice to be able to fit all 4 containers across the top, but c’est la vie. When you’re ready to pack it away, you can store the containers and drop-ables inside the box. 
Doesn’t it look inviting? I had a lot of fun working on it. I always find this kind of thing therapeutic, and kind of lose myself in the process, so it was a relaxing way to spend the afternoon.
I think this is going to be very popular with my little friends! I can’t wait for them to see it next week.
***************UPDATE************* One and a half years later, this drop box gets pulled out and played with almost every day by one hooligan or another. Despite the fact that it’s been stepped on and sat on by a couple of the babies (and therefore the sides and top are kind of crunched in), this is still one of the all-time favourite activities in the playroom!
If you’d like more ideas for creating easy activities from recycled materials, here are a few more treasures we’ve made from our trash!
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What a great work you have doe for your hooligans
I will pin this and do it myself also. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Thanks for pinning, Angelique! Have fun with yours!!
Great!
Oh nooooo! I also saw this post and wanted one, but managed to convince myself with all the other things I wanted to make maybe I should leave this one. But now I’ve seen yours I am so jealous and will have to make one:))
Such a great idea! Looks like a very busy box that can provide hours of fun and learning!!! Thanx for sharing!
Ok – That is AWESOME! We will so make this for our class too! – Well, when I get the time but I love it!
Oh, I know!! If only we could figure out a way to give up sleeping…just think of all the things we could make! I’m so glad you liked it, Deborah! Thanks so much for sharing the link!!
You are welcome;) Thanks for sharing so many fun ideas! It has been a pleasure to follow you.
What a cute Idea!!
Super cute! Looks like it could definitely work for my own 5 year old at home, as well as my kindergarteners, as a single person center. Love it! Gonna get started on mine asap! Thanks!
Thanks, Amie! Have fun making yours! Hope your little people love it!
Wonderful possibilities for Circle time too! I can see thematic boxes too… I don’t know how you and Deborah and a few others find time to Blog but I sure APPRECIATE it!
Great ideas, Jamie!! As far as finding the time….this could be interesting. I set up my blog a few weeks ago, while my daycare was closed for the summer. The Hooligans return on Tuesday, so I have a feeling I’m not going to be posting nearly as often as I have been this past couple of weeks. lol Thanks for stopping by, and for taking the time to drop me a line.
This is the best one I’ve seen (and the only one I pinned!)
Thanks Bethany! And thanks so much for pinning!
I LOVE this idea! I may even use clear contact paper to cover it and make it last longer.
Glad you liked it! The contact paper is a great idea!
I have to say that this is absolutely awesome!!! I have some little ones that would definitely benefit from this!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
You are welcome, Kimberly! It was a lot of fun to put together! Hope you and your little ones have fun with yours!
That is impressive! I get so frustrated working with cardboard. I think I need to invest in a good box cutter.
Thanks, Rebekah! Yes, a good box cutter is the ticket!
Love it! Now I need to make one, dang it! Thanks for the extra work Jackie
(Just kidding of course)
Are you kidding me?!!! I can’t believe how creative you are! I am a fairly new SAHM and thought of myself as creative, but I will definitely be referring to your fantastic web of ideas for kid (and mom) fun!
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