How to Build a Kid's Crawl Tunnel

Select large, strong packing, shipping or appliance boxes for the crawl tunnel.

Crawl tunnels make engaging toys for all ages. Younger children gain motor skills and practice exploration in crawl tunnels. Older kids use their imaginations in crawl tunnels, making them into pirate caves, secret clubhouses, forts, doll playhouses and movie sets. For older kids, pick up appliance boxes from a department store or appliance supplier to make larger, more elaborate tunnels. Let the kids get in the act to decorate the crawl tunnels to keep them occupied on rainy days.

Things You'll Need

• Three or more large cardboard boxes
• Box cutter or utility knife
• Duct tape

Instructions

1. Slice the flaps off the boxes with a box cutter or utility knife. For older kids, leave one flap on one end of two of the boxes to hang down from the top to make the tunnel darker.

2. Cut small windows, at least 6-by-6 inches in two sides of each box for air flow. Make the windows near the corner so it will be at the top, keeping small children from getting their feet caught in the holes.

3. Place the boxes end to end on the floor so the cut-open ends line up. If you left the flaps on two boxes, place those boxes on each end, with the flap on top, hanging down toward the floor. Wrap the tape all the way around each seam twice to make the crawl tunnel durable for older kids.

Tips & Warnings

• For babies or toddlers, one or two boxes is enough. Finish the box edges by folding tape over the edges all the way around each end of the crawl tunnel so the edges will be smooth when little ones crawl over it or touch it.

• Let little kids take their time exploring. Supervise children playing with boxes and crawl tunnels.

• Paint the boxes with non-toxic paints such as poster paints.

• Add glow-in-the-dark stickers inside the crawl tunnels and let the kids charge them with flashlights.

• Do not use any kind of plastic such as bags or shower curtains on the crawl tunnel due to suffocation risk.

• Check all surfaces of the boxes for staples before using.

References

• Fischer-Price: Tunnel Crawl