Cardboard Playhouse

3.4 based on 305 ratings
Updated on Aug 30, 2013

Playhouses can be expensive, and they take up so much space. Why not make your own collapsible playhouse instead? This activity is a little tricky, but it's a great way for your child to learn about building, measurement, and design. When you're done working together, she'll have her very own fortress that's the perfect cozy spot to read, or even play pretend!

What You Need:

  • 2 cardboard boxes
  • Scissors, or a box cutter with parental supervision.
  • Colored tape
  • Ruler
  • Pencil

What You Do:

  1. Start with one cardboard box. Set the other to the side for later.
  2. Have your child turn the box on its side. Help her to cut off the top of the box. Set the cut cardboard to the side to create the roof later on.
  3. Help her flip the box so the "floor" of the playhouse is now on top. Reinforce the flaps of the roof with tape. Set the playhouse-in-progress to the side.
  4. Grab the piece of cardboard that was cut off earlier from the "roof." Measure and cut off at least 1/4" from one side of the cardboard. If you want your roof to be more steep, cut off up to 1/2".
  5. Help your child to trace and cut out an exact replica of the roof piece on the 2nd box.
  6. Tape the edges of the two roof pieces together. They should be flexible so they can bend to create a fold, which will be the peak of the playhouse roof.
  7. Grab the base of the playhouse and place its floor on the ground. Now, have her tape the roof to the top of the playhouse.
  8. Have her position the playhouse facedown and help her cut down the exact center of the back and bottom of the playhouse. This will help the playhouse become collapsible.
  9. Then, have her cut on the fold where the back and bottom meet.
  10. Check to make sure the back and bottom flaps can fold outward. She can now flatten the box and tape the edges of the cut flaps together.
  11. Open the playhouse up and hold it in place while she tapes along the side seams.
  12. If she wants, your child can paint her house and draw designs on the cardboard to truly make it her own.
  13. Fill your playhouse with pillows, books, snacks, comics and anything else that sounds like loads of fun!
  14. Now your child has a playhouse she can use whenever and wherever she wants. When she's all done, just fold it up and stick it in the closet!