How to Make a Play Sink & Stove
Send the kids to play house with their own custom play sink and stove made from repurposing a large box. According to Dr. Kenneth R. Ginsburg of the American Academy of Pediatrics, free play, such as pretend kitchen play, is integral to a child's healthy brain developmental. Building your own play sink and stove makes the toy special and saves you money.
Things You'll Need
- Large cardboard box
- Craft glue
- Pencil
- Scissors or craft knife
- Metal bowl with 1/2-inch lip
- White and black paint
- Paintbrushes
- Cardboard
Instructions
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1
Close all the box's flaps and apply glue to seal them shut. Allow them to dry completely. Lay the box on its side to work on the cabinets. Draw two rectangles, approximately 10 by 14 inches, side by side and 3 inches apart on one of the box's long sides.
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2
Cut out three sides of each of the rectangles to form cabinets. Use scissors or a craft knife to cut the top, left and bottom sides of each drawn rectangle. Turn the box right side up again.
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3
Trace the opening of a metal bowl on one side of the top to form a sink. Then cut out a circle that is 1 inch smaller than the tracing. Paint the entire box with white paint using a paintbrush. Allow it to dry. Paint an additional coat if necessary.
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4
Draw a faucet on an additional piece of cardboard. Form an upside-down "J" shape roughly 10 inches tall. Cut the piece out and cut a slot behind the cut-out circle. Slide the faucet into the slot and put the metal bowl into the open hole for the sink.
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5
Draw on cardboard four circles approximately 4 inches in diameter for the burners. Cut them out and arrange them to the opposite side from the sink. Glue them down like burners ofa real stove, with two in the front and two in the rear.
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6
Paint circular stove knobs on the side of the box just below the burners with black paint. Add door handles to the cabinets. Also paint hot and cold water taps on either side of the faucet.
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Tips & Warnings
Cut two small holes on one of the smaller sides of the box to string kitchen twine. Then hang a kitchen towel from the twine.
Add play pots and pans to the toy to complete the kitchen.
Use red yarn to craft electric burners on the cardboard circles.
Adult supervision is necessary for this craft.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
