So here we have a simple game guaranteed to keep kids (tested on 1-6 year olds) amused for 30-60 mins. And even better, made with objects around the house - recycling at its best.
Cardboard Box
Scissors / Scalpel
Glue
Paint
Fabric Scraps
Rice
Optional:
Ribbon
Marker Pen
Paper
- Take a cardboard box, ideally larger than 50cm on a side. This was a box from Approved Foods, and measured 70cm on a side. Double corrugated is better as it will last longer (bean bags can be thrown with vicious force) but this was made with single corrugated and survived a beating. To make it easier for younger kids, turn the box upside down and trim the bottom at an angle so the box leans back slightly. Alternately leave the box intact and place on a chair or prop up the front with beanbags / books etc.
- Cut out ear shapes and hot glue them to the top of the box.
- Paint or cover in paper. I used regular matt emulsion as I had a large can in the house.
- Draw the shape of a rabbit on the side in pencil. You could use other animals but would need to adjust the bean bags accordingly. But it would be easy to draw a monkey and have bean bag bananas, a tortoise and lettuces, a cat and fish or a dog and bones.
- Cut out the shape of them mouth and a circle on the belly. If kids are older the holes can be smaller or just use the mouth. As we had tiny babies I thought I would make it easier.
- Paint or draw the shape of the bunny with bold lines. I like the black and white, but it could easily be coloured in or collaged.
- Take some orange fabric (I used an old t-shirt) and sew several V shapes into a double layer. Cut around these and turn inside out so you have several cones of orange fabric.
- Fill the cones with sand, rice, or beans. I used rice.
- Take scraps of green fabric and ribbon and bundle them up to make several little bunches. Take an bunch and tack it together with one or two stitches.
- Place this bundle at the top of the filled cone and stitch it closed. I pulled all the fabric from the top of the cone tightly around the bunch and stitched through and around, with a few loops of thread around it for good measure. With 6+ carrots your game is ready to play!