How to Make a Working Drawbridge Castle

A castle with a working drawbridge provides children with a place to reign over their imaginary kingdoms.

A castle is a popular model of playhouse for children but can be expensive to purchase. Bring your child's imagination of royalty to life by constructing a cardboard castle with a working drawbridge. This building project provides an activity that the whole family can enjoy. Experience the satisfaction of creating a regal play place for your child while saving money by using simple materials that can be found at your home or local craft store.

Things You'll Need

• Picture of a castle
• Large appliance cardboard box
• 4 cardboard paper towel rolls
• Packaging tape
• 1 long, thin rope
• Box cutter
• Ruler
• Cardboard glue
• Nontoxic paint
• Paintbrushes
• Tarp or newspaper

Instructions

1. Select a large appliance cardboard box and tape the base together if the box has been broken down. Cut off the top flaps of the box with a box cutter.

2. Designate a safe cutting area and turn the box on its side. Use a picture of a castle for reference to form the ridged top of the castle walls by cutting down, across six inches, and up again along the entire rim of the box. This will create the square or rectangular "crenelations."

3. Cut an arched door large enough for your child to fit through into one side of the box, leaving the bottom of the door attached to the box. Create two holes in either side of the top of the door with the box cutter. Insert a long, thin piece of rope from the inside of the box through the first hole and back into the box through the second hole, creating a drawbridge that can be pushed open and pulled closed.

4. Glue one cardboard paper towel roll to the top of each corner of the castle to form turrets. Keep each tower firmly in place by taping the towers in place after the glue dries.

5. Place the castle on tarp or newspaper and paint it the color of your choice. Allow time for the castle to dry before using it.

Tips & Warnings

• A box cutter should only be used by an adult and should be kept out of the reach of children.

References

• "Inland Region": Parts Of A Castle
• "Enchanted Learning": Cardboard Box Castle