DIY Cardboard Road playmat
When something gets delivered from Amazon and I see those cardboard boxes, my DIYer instincts are on a roll. Cardboard boxes can be recycled and used for toys, kitchen accessories, storage and much more. Children become bored of toys rather easily, using these boxes to make new crafts and toys is always easy on pocket with encouraging creativity. So be prepared to add this cardboard road playmat into your kids toy box.
I made this Diy Cardboard Road Playmat two years ago when my son was 4 years old and obviously obsessed with cars, roads, traffic lights, and community helpers. He helped me through the entire making, today after three years he makes his own road maps which go through different countries and continents.
When you make something yourself there are all sorts of factors which help in overall child’s development like the creativity of make-believe, the intellectual development that comes from learning the name of the objects, brainstorming ideas and teamwork. A road play mat like all other activity mats offer a range of benefits in helping to encourage the development of your child. It can be something a child enjoys playing with and exploring on their own, or with a parent.
Diy Cardboard Road playmat was my first DIY and since then there is no stopping. This post is also one of my most visited posts on the website.
How to make DIY Cardboard Road playmat?
Watch the video:
What will we need:
- 1. Cardboard
- 2. Print out of traffic lights, hospital, school, petrol station, police station. (available on clipart-library)
- 3. Icecream sticks
- 4. Black marker
- 5. Thermocol
- 6. Blu Tack
- 7. Glue
Follow the steps listed below:
Step #1. Get hold of big rectangle shaped flat cardboard or cut it accordingly. I like my roads to be even so I have used a scale and pencil to measure and form my roads in uniformity. You can use your free hand drawing skills too. Ask your child to draw a rough sketch of his road play mat, this engagement will encourage him to think creatively and make him feel he is involved in the making of the road mat.
Step #2. Stick the roadsign/traffic light on the ice cream stick. I have used a thermocol as the stand which eventually is stuck to the cardboard with a blu tack. You can use only a blu tack to hold the ice cream stick.
Teaching children road safety is a very crucial part of raising the young ones as it directly concerns their physical safety and well-being as they grow and become independent. I was also teaching him left and right directions to him. This play mat was just perfect for everything.
Step #3. These are all the cars and toys which we already have in our building block set. Use your existing toys to add on the activity road play mat.
Step #4. Once you the outline ready in pencil (if you zoom you can see it) stick your printables in their positions.
Step #5: Place your traffic lights and signs. Even better give it to your child to place it.
Looking to teach them directions and parking sign, introduce a game for your children while driving.
Ask them how to reach to the school or home. Introduce the following phrases.
-Turn right/left after the supermarket.
-Go straight.
-Introduce words like overbridge, U-turn and tunnel.
-Show them the landmarks (bank, school, post office)
-Stop your car at the zebra crossing
– Show them to the traffic lights and explain each colour’s importance.
Explain the meaning of each phrase while you drive around the city.
All in all DIY cardboard Road play mat is so much play and learn and a must have for kids.
After 2 years AJ making his own city, no idea if this Diy Cardboard Road playmat has been his inspiration. But even if it helped his creativity in a tiny bit, it is totally worth it.
