When I was young, my parents made an entire play house for me from recycled cardboard boxes. You can use your recycle bin to make a cardboard house for homeschool or preschool learning center. Here's a tutorial for homemade child sized sink and refrigerator.
To make these easy cardboard play appliances in
less than an hour, you will need cardboard boxes, box cutter or sharp scissors, permanent marker,
plastic dishpan or tub, duct tape or box tape and two pump dispensers from soap bottles.
To make a play sink, tape a cardboard box closed. Cut slits in the box. Insert a small plastic dishpan or
tub like hospitals send patients home with. Push tub down into the hole you cut. Cardboard frame will
hold the tub in place and create a 'sink'.
Make faucet, spout and handle for your play sink from two recycled dispenser bottles. Foaming hand
soap dispensers look the most realistic. Cut small holes in the back of the box sink. Drop dispenser
pieces into the holes so that just the top pump part shows through. Tape inside box so it doesn't
wobble. Children can pretend to run water by pressing pump dispenser.
Or make pretend handles.
Make discs of cardboard, clay or cork. Cover with duct tape. Punch hole in center. Insert old pencils
or straws. Cut a hole in the back of the cardboard near faucet. Insert straws/pencils and tape to back
inside of box. Label "hot" and "cold." Rotate discs like knobs. Place recycled dish soap bottle on sink.
Use a tall rectangle box placed upright for refrigerator. Duct tape pieces of cardboard to make a
shelves. Place an old plastic dishpan or plastic box in the bottom for a vegetable drawer. Cover all
cardboard surfaces with contact paper and seal edges with duct tape so cardboard appliances last
longer. Place small clothing rack near the play kitchen to hang aprons and chefs hats. Dress up is essential in child's play.
