How to Build a Kid's Theater With Recycled Cardboards
Give a budding dramatist the stage by constructing a small, simple puppet theater right at home. All you'll need to complete the project are inexpensive household materials like bits of recycled cardboard and paint. You can make your child's cardboard theater as simple or as intricate as you'd like; get your kids involved in the construction process to gauge their input and flex their creative muscles. The craft project won't take long to complete, so don't be surprised if before long your child is directing hit mini-musicals in your living room for the neighborhood theater buffs.
Things You'll Need
- Empty box (any variety will do)
- Scissors
- Newspapers or tablecloth
- Poster paints
- Red fabric scraps or construction paper
- Glue
- Ribbon or twist tie
Instructions
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1
Use a pair of scissors to remove the lid from your cardboard box. This opening will serve as the bottom of the theater through which the puppets will enter and exit the stage.
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2
Cover a flat, even work surface with old newspapers or a tablecloth. Begin painting the box using your poster paints; any shade will do, so have your kids help you decide on a color scheme for the theater. Consult the paint label to find the manufacturer's recommendations for drying times and then allow the paint job to dry completely.
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3
Use your scissors to cut a rectangular opening in a side of the dried, painted box. This can be any surface except for the one directly opposite the first section you removed, as it will act as the stage. Leave at least two inches of the side intact to ensure it doesn't fall apart.
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4
Trace the outline of stage curtains on your red fabric or red construction paper. The scale of these should be in keeping with the proportions of the rest of your box. Cut the red material out and use glue to attach them to either side of your stage. Tie the fabric curtains back using a ribbon or twist tie, or draw a sash on construction paper curtains to give the illusion that they are being held back.
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5
Have your children create a variety of scenic backgrounds using construction paper and paints. These can be attached to the inside of the box as needed.
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Tips & Warnings
The size of the cardboard box can be as small as a shoebox to as large as an old refrigerator box, depending on your personal preference. For an added bit of entertainment, have your kids extend the craft by creating their very own puppets. Depending on the size of the cardboard theater you constructed, these could be finger puppets, sock puppets or even marionettes.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
