These light-weight blocks were so simple to make, and Clara had a lot of fun playing with them. Sometimes wooden blocks can be a bit too heavy and difficult for the little ones to play with. Instead, we made our own using empty (well-cleaned) milk cartons! Stacking blocks is a great educational activity for toddlers because it is a good lesson in cause and effect, balancing, spatial awareness, and fine motor skills.
A friend of mine asked her daughter’s preschool to save all the empty milk cartons for us one day. We ended up with a big bag of them, and we used many of the empty cartons to make bird feeders with the kids from my local moms club. To make the blocks, I cut off the very top of the milk carton, and folded in the top to make a flat side, as shown.
I taped this shut, and then wrapped it up as I would a present.
I used up some leftover wrapping paper from Mother’s Day, and I even used a decorative napkin for some of the blocks. You could use brown paper bags, or whatever you have on hand. Emily might even decorate a few of these for her little sister.
I think she is enjoying her new “lighter” blocks very much!
June 2nd, 2009 on 12:24 pm
These blocks are great–as is all of your wonderful ideas.
June 2nd, 2009 on 1:04 pm
Oh! They’re darling! I’ve been browsing your blog and you have some great ideas. From one tightwad to another, thank you.
June 2nd, 2009 on 1:12 pm
Brilliant idea! Now to get my hands on some milk containers…
June 2nd, 2009 on 1:21 pm
Cute…but I’d have to cover in clear packing tape or they’d be unwrapped in a blink of an eye!
)
June 2nd, 2009 on 1:35 pm
@ Tina — I’m sure clear packing tape would work beautifully, great idea!!
@ Verena — Welcome, and thank you for stopping by. Always nice to meet a fellow tightwad.
June 2nd, 2009 on 8:38 pm
Cute idea. My kids would have thought it was a holiday everyday with these.
June 3rd, 2009 on 7:28 am
Those are so cute!
June 3rd, 2009 on 11:26 am
I love these blocks! Big blocks would be fun too (like cereal boxes).
June 3rd, 2009 on 11:57 am
you could even sprinkle a little rice or beans in each one so they make sound as well! Great idea! Love your blog!
June 3rd, 2009 on 4:40 pm
I made some very similar blocks for sunnyboy with some square cardboard boxes I had. After experimenting a bit I stuffed them with newspaper to strengthen them and reinforced them with parcel tape on the edges, as sunnyboy was a bit heavy-handed with them. They were so strong in the end that we still have them now
June 3rd, 2009 on 11:12 pm
@ Packer Family — That is such a great idea!! Thank you!! I'm going to make a few more with some dried beans inside and I'm sure Clara will just LOVE them!
June 5th, 2009 on 10:19 am
Great idea!
June 5th, 2009 on 11:56 am
What a very green and frugal idea. And they are so so pretty! Great job!
June 5th, 2009 on 12:16 pm
That is a great idea. I wish I had a little one to do this for. I need a cheap way to make Lego sets.
Thanks for sharing with Friday Showcase!!!
June 5th, 2009 on 2:38 pm
you are soo clever!
June 5th, 2009 on 7:48 pm
very pretty!