Box Play

This week, preschoolers are engaging with large cardboard boxes. I bring these boxes out at least four times a year, and the preschoolers play with them for a week each time. Initially, they often play hide-and-seek with the boxes. Although that's not my ultimate goal for box play, hide-and-seek offers opportunities for practicing turn-taking, self-regulation, and rote counting. On the second day, I read Not a Box and nudge them to explore further. I might say, "Hmm... I wonder what else you could do with these boxes? Could you make a house? A tunnel? How would you do that? Do you need my help with anything?" I assist them in their exploration. Over the years, the boxes have transformed into zoo cages, ovens (especially when we read gingerbread men stories), refrigerators, bedrooms, and drive-through restaurants. Playing with boxes fosters teamwork, imagination, and problem-solving skills. It enhances gross motor skills as the boxes are lifted and moved around, and it provides opportunities for writing and drawing.