Embracing the Magic of Boxes in Early Years Play
As the festive season drifts into memories of mince pies and board games (or is that just at my house!), many of us find ourselves still surrounded by an abundance of boxes from online Christmas deliveries. While these boxes might seem like another job to sort for us adults, they hold a world of possibilities for young children. The early years sector can harness the potential of these boxes to create engaging, imaginative and educational play experiences. The opportunities are limitless, but here are a few ideas!
The Power of Open-Ended Play
Boxes are the epitome of open-ended play. They can be transformed into anything a child imagines—a spaceship, a castle, a car, or even a cosy reading nook. This type of play is crucial for early development as it encourages creativity, problem-solving and cognitive flexibility. By providing children with boxes and being a supportive and interested adult, you allow them to take the lead in their play, fostering independence and confidence.
The Educational Programme for Expressive Art and Design states that it is important for children to have the opportunity to regularly engage with the arts, enabling them to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials. Whilst paint, sand and water form the bedrock of early years play, enhancing with a large stack of boxes invites imaginative exploration and who knows what will emerge… a dragon, a castle, a rocket…
Development Matters - Non-statutory curriculum guidance for the early years foundation stage
Language and Communication Skills
Boxes can also be a fantastic tool for developing language and communication skills. Encourage children to describe what they are creating or role-playing. This can lead to rich conversations and storytelling, expanding their vocabulary and understanding of narrative structures. You can also introduce new concepts and vocabulary related to the festive season, such as "delivery," "parcel," and "wrapping." When linked with non-verbal communication, such as eye contact and gesture, language can develop.
Again, the Evidence Store supports this. ‘When an adult provides opportunities for children to learn the societal rules of verbal and non-verbal communication so they can adjust their choice of words, volume or position to best engage the listener and communicate they are listening to those they are interacting with’. EEF | Communication and Language
The ShREC Approach, where the adult and child share attention around a common interest and back and forth conversation develops can easily be applied when exploring box play.
EEF blog: The ShREC approach – 4 evidence-informed strategies… | EEF
Case study
After a large local storm, where buildings were damaged and power cuts across the area, I brought in a number of large boxes and supplemented with resources. I asked the children what we could build and they decided we should build a hotel for those whose homes had been damaged. The children used wire and pipe cleaners for pipes and electrical wiring, added windows and doors and spent prolonged periods engaged in the activity over several days – returning again and again to enhance the hotel.
One child became an ‘architect’ and drew blueprints on large sheets of graph paper – trying to capture his vision and others took on the role of builder, electrician and plumber. Safety signs were drawn and hard hats were worn in the construction area!
As well as the imaginative play developing, children were learning how to use scissors, hole punches and staplers, they were learning how to negotiate with their peers and they were learning different methods to join and fix. The children were also learning about where in the nursery was safe to leave their construction to be able to return to it later. The back and forth conversations with the practitioners and peers in the room enabled language development, turn taking and new friendships developed between children from different classes, but with the same interests.
Enhancing Physical Development
Large boxes can be used to create tunnels, forts, and obstacle courses, promoting physical activity and gross motor skills. Crawling through tunnels or climbing over box structures helps children develop coordination, balance, and spatial awareness. For younger children, smaller boxes can be used for stacking and sorting activities, enhancing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The addition of mark making materials, string, scissors, pipe cleaners etc will enhance the development of the project.
Social and Emotional Development
Collaborative play with boxes can help children develop important social skills such as sharing, negotiating, and teamwork. Whether they are building a fort together or taking turns in a pretend play scenario, these interactions teach children how to work with others and manage their emotions. Additionally, the sense of accomplishment from creating something from scratch can boost their self-esteem and resilience.
Sustainability and Creativity
Using boxes for play also teaches children about sustainability and the importance of reusing materials. It’s a great opportunity to discuss recycling and the environmental impact of packaging. Encourage children to think creatively about how they can repurpose everyday items, fostering a mindset of sustainability from a young age.
This type of sustainable play could form part of your Climate Action Plan, asking parents to bring in their clean and sorted boxes and recycling to enhance your box play. Anything that is not used can be taken and sorted into a local recycling bin.
Sustainability leadership and climate action plans in education - GOV.UK
If you need help and information about completing a Climate Action Plan, use the link below to access information for early years settings.
Highfield Nursery School - Sustainable Hub
Boxes from online Christmas deliveries are more than just waste—they are a gateway to endless play and learning opportunities. By incorporating these simple materials into your early years setting, you can create a rich, engaging, and festive learning environment that supports all areas of development. So, let’s embrace the magic of boxes and watch as children’s imaginations soar.