How to Make a Cardboard Mailbox for Preschool Children
A pretend mailbox for preschoolers can be an effective educational tool. Pretend play is beneficial for children because it helps them learn about the world around them. In addition, sliding pretend mail into the slot in the mailbox helps to develop hand-eye coordination. You can add an extra challenge by asking the child to put mail with different colors, pictures or numbers into the mailbox. It's inexpensive and easy to create this imaginative play toy, and most preschoolers will get hours of playtime out of it.
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Instructions
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Paint the outside of the shoe box, including the lid, with blue paint, using the paintbrush. Allow to dry completely before proceeding.
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Cut a rectangle that is 10 inches long and 1/2 inch wide in one of the long sides of the shoe box with the craft knife. Alternatively, cut the slot in the lid of the box. This will be where the child can slide mail into the box.
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Paint "Mailbox" on the lid of the shoe box, if desired. You can also allow your preschooler to decorate it with markers or stickers to personalize it. The child can remove the lid to collect mail.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have more than one child, make a mailbox for each one so they can put letters in each other's boxes.
Leave your child surprise notes in their mailbox when they aren't looking.
Collect envelopes in different colors. Call out color names and have your child put the correct colored envelope in the mailbox. You could also write numbers, letters or shapes on each envelope and have your child identify those when you call them out and put them in the box.
Sort a deck of cards by number. Give your child one card of each number. Hold up a card and have the child put the matching card into the mailbox.
Exercise caution to avoid cutting yourself when using a craft knife.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
