Upcycling Cardboard Cars

We like anything having to do with recycling and crafting and this idea is really fun! Turn your old boxes into mini cardboard cars that can be “driven" around or used for a drive-in movie.

Our friends at High Point Museum in North Carolina are putting a new twist on it with their “Drive-In Storytelling and Reading Lounge!” for Global Day of Unplugging 2025. They are making the focus be on capturing kids imagination to encourage a love of reading.

To make the magic happen, gather up your supplies.

SUPPLIES:

• boxes - variety of shapes and sizes

• Kid friendly paint

• paint brushes

• markers

• scissors

• glue (a glue gun for an adult is also very useful)

• string

• fasteners

• smocks - so kids can keep paint off their clothes.

• recycled food containers

• newspaper or plastic to cover your floor areas

Use paint or washable markers (takes less time to dry) to decorate your vehicles.

You can keep it mostly about recycled goods using items like plastic food take out containers for wheels, lights and steering wheels. Ask the kids before you get started if they want to wear it or just sit in it, so you can accommodate the design to add straps if need be.

When the decorating is done and the products are all dry, you can have your event culminate in a car parade, story time or drive in movie. Inventors of tomorrow have some great tips on how to make recycled cardboard cars that you might want to check out.

High Point Museum cars - getting ready for the “Drive-In Storytelling and Reading Lounge!”