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Homemade Box Train

Time

  • 20 to 30 minutes

Materials

  • 2 medium-sized brown packing boxes (about 18 inches or less across)
  • Brightly colored thick yarn

Directions

  1. This activity helps toddlers learn about their body strength. Cut the flaps off 2 good-sized boxes, and be sure to remove any protruding staples.
  2. Pass a cord of sturdy yarn, about 12 to 15 inches long, through 2 holes at the end of one box.
  3. Link the second box to it using another piece of yarn. Your toddler will love to pull this mini-train around the house.

Extensions

  • Challenge your toddler to throw things into the train.
  • Challenge your toddler to push the train from behind instead of pulling it.
  • Put something heavy into the train so your toddler can experience resistance. Remove the items to show the difference in strength required.
  • Repeat and talk about putting things in and taking them out, about it being too heavy or just right.

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Copyright © 2004 by Susan Kettmann. Excerpted from The 2,000 Best Games & Activities with permission of its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

To order this book visit Amazon.com.


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