Cardboard Arcade
Build the game, then make the whole family play it.
- Ages
- 5–12 yrs
- Play
- 45–120 min
- Prep
- 15 min
- Mess
- some
- Energy
- lively
- Where
- on the floor
You’ll need
Things you probably have at home.
- cardboard boxes
- tapeDon’t have it? Amazon
Optional
- scissors (adult use)Don’t have it? Amazon
- pens or paintDon’t have it? Amazon
- balls or bean bags to throwDon’t have it? Amazon
- tubes
- play money for ticketsGet it on Amazon
How to play
Before you start: Gather every box in the house. Clear a wall to lean things against.
Pick one game to build first: skee-ball, a ball toss with scoring holes, or a basketball hoop.
Cut the holes together — adults on scissors — and let them decide the scores.
Decorate it, including the scoreboard.
Test it once and adjust: the holes are always too small on the first try.
Open the arcade. Charge the rest of the family in play money and keep score.
What it helps with
Keep it safe
- Adults do all cutting. Tape over every cut edge and staple.
- Do not lean tall cardboard structures where they can fall on a younger child.
Make it different next time
- Build three small games instead of one big one.
- Add a prize counter where tickets buy things from the toy box.
Cleanup: Photograph it, then break it down for recycling together.
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15–40 min 3–8 yrs Low mess- a train set with trackto buy
- wooden blocksto buy