Train Boxes

If you are running out of toys this winter or have found yourself snowed in with the same toy options over and over again all week long, this one is for you.  Here is a quick and simple way to reuse the boxes that you find all over the house by turning them into trains.  Any box will do.  Cereal, cookie, pasta boxes are all great and the different sizes will make the trains even more interesting.   You will have a moving train within minutes that can keep your little ones occuped.  To make this craft more interesting you can start by reading train related books and stories and discuss freight options, as much as you can have such discussion with a 2 year old.

Take a box and cut out the middle.  Since there are two toddlers in my house I taped the corners to make sure that the boxes are not damaged too quickly.

Poke a hole on the sides of two boxes pull a shoelace or rope through it.

Tie a knot at the each end of the rope.

You can line each cart with a cloth.

or even better let a toddler arrange the sleeping cars the way she wants to.

She is really good at taking care of her animals.

See all cozied up.  If she forgets to bundle them up you can gently remind her that this in fact is a sleeping car (or use a fancy french word couchette) and even animals need a blanky to fall asleep.

Here is another tucked in passager.

Here is the conductor pulling the train through the landscape.

now they are taking the corner on route to a very exotic location like beach or ice cream shop (can you tell we have been snowed in and really need some warmth).

All of a sudden terrorist stops the train and gives us her demands.  Now matter how hard you pull she will not give in.

It is her train and mommy will have to make you another.  So much for being a nice girl.