Q: There are so many great indoor playground sets for kids, but they can be really expensive. Is there something that I can make for my kids that will help expand their imaginations without breaking the bank? A: Having six kids of my own, I know just how expensive all those amazing indoor playground sets can be. So today I'm going to show you how to create the ultimate kids' castle made from cardboard. This little fortress has it al,l from a working drawbridge to the lookout tower at the top. It will let your child's imagination run wild, and you can certainly do the same when creating it. This is really a fun project for you and a fun toy for your kids.
The base of our castle is made from simple cardboard boxes. Ideally, a refrigerator box for the center and washer and dryer boxes for the side pieces would work great, but not many of us have those lying around the house. You can try office-supply stores, which sometimes carry larger-size cardboard boxes that aren't typically terribly expensive. Sometimes appliance stores may even give you their boxes. Another option, if you happen to have a couple of good-sized boxes that are in good shape, is to combine them together with heavy-duty tape, like duct tape, to construct the castle.
Now that you know what you need to begin the building process, let's get started.
1. Assemble the boxes to form the walls; paint with gray tempera paint on the sides that will show once they're attached.
2. Decide where to place windows and doors, and use a ruler to draw a template onto the boxes. Cut out the windows and doors with a utility knife, being sure to leave the "hinged" side uncut.
3. Use silver duct tape to connect the boxes; you can do this decoratively to suggest metal hinges.
4. Use black and white paints to create faux stones and shadowing around the windows and doors. You can make this very simple and use it as a way to teach kids about perspective and about seeing things three-dimensionally.
5. Use scissors to create corresponding holes on the drawbridge and the wall, and thread rope through, knotting on each side.
6. Use a utility knife to cut foamcore into turret-shaped facades that will fit across the top of the castle. Attach these with tape or glue.
7. If you wish, use funfoam, scissors and dowels to make flags; for a little added bonus for the kids, you can make a crown or maybe even a cloak for them to really get in to the role.
As you can see, this was very easy to create. All it took was a couple of cardboard boxes, some paint, foamcore and, of course, a little bit of creativity and imagination.
