18 CREATIVE CARDBOARD CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Looking for screen-free ways to keep your kids busy and entertained this summer? Cardboard might just be the answer! It’s a simple, versatile, and budget-friendly material that sparks creativity and fuels hours of imaginative play.

From building DIY dollhouses to crafting an indoor mini-golf course, these 20 cardboard activity ideas are perfect for engaging kids while encouraging outdoor fun, hands-on learning, and artistic expression. Gather a few cardboard boxes and dive into these creative projects that turn ordinary materials into extraordinary adventures. Let’s explore the endless possibilities of cardboard fun!

Create a Costume with Cardboard Ideas for Kids

Large cardboard boxes are perfect for crafting creative costumes, and a cardboard car is a fun way to spark your child’s imagination! Help your kids transform a big box into a car by cutting out windows and adding wheels. Then, get creative by using toilet paper rolls for headlights, googly eyes for extra fun, and pipe cleaners to create antennas or decorative details.

This hands-on project not only encourages imaginative pretend play but also provides a fun, interactive way for kids to “drive” their own vehicle, whether it’s for dress-up time, role-playing, or a cardboard parade!

Cardboard is a fantastic material for crafting creative costumes like a fearsome dragon or a futuristic robot! For a dragon, use cardboard to create scales, wings, and a tail, and paint it in bright, fiery colors. For a robot, cut the cardboard into boxy shapes, add metallic paint, and decorate with buttons or gears using markers or additional cardboard pieces.

Both costumes encourage creativity and give kids the chance to become their favorite mythical or futuristic characters, ready for imaginative play and costume fun!

Cardboard Doll Houses for Boys and Girls

Little ones will adore crafting their very own cardboard dollhouse! Start by assembling the main structure using cardboard boxes. To make it even more special, decorate the walls with scraps of wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, leftover peel-and-stick wallpaper, or even colorful tissue paper. The creative options are endless!

This project is a fantastic way to develop fine motor skills while keeping kids entertained for hours. They’ll love not only designing and building their dollhouse but also playing with it once it’s complete.

A bonus? This dollhouse is easy to disassemble and store when not in use. With just five small boxes pieced together, it’s both a creative and practical activity your kids will cherish!

Looking for a fun, screen-free activity for the boys? Try creating a cardboard fort or house for their favorite toys, like Legos or action figures. Get creative by adding unique features such as a cardboard slide, garage, or even a box car to enhance the play experience.

This activity encourages imagination and hands-on creativity while giving their small toys a cool new “home” to explore. Plus, the endless customization options mean kids can keep building and designing for hours of entertainment!

Cardboard Ideas for Kids Activities

Making a cardboard guitar is a classic and fun project that will keep kids entertained while letting them explore their musical creativity! All you need is a cardboard box, some rubber bands, and a few basic craft supplies. Simply decorate the guitar, stretch the rubber bands over the box for strings, and voilà—a DIY musical instrument.

The best part? It’s a quiet, fun activity that lets kids experiment with sound without being overly noisy, making it a parent-approved way to pass the time. Your little musicians will love strumming their very own homemade guitar!

Turn a simple piece of cardboard into an educational tool by creating a fun learning match game for your toddlers! Cut the cardboard into squares or rectangles, then draw or stick pictures, numbers, or letters on each piece. You can even use matching pairs of shapes, animals, or colors to help with early learning skills.

This hands-on activity encourages memory, recognition, and cognitive skills, all while keeping toddlers entertained. It’s an easy, budget-friendly way to turn cardboard into a valuable educational resource!

Why not create a DIY carnival at home with some fun cardboard games? A homemade skeeball game is a perfect idea to get kids active and entertained at a party! Inspired by Beau Baby’s creative suggestion, you can build the game using a large cardboard box, cut out holes of various sizes for scoring, and use balls or crumpled paper for throwing.

This game encourages hand-eye coordination, friendly competition, and hours of fun. Plus, it’s a great way to bring the excitement of a carnival right to your living room or backyard!

Who’s ready for a round of mini golf? If you have some golf balls and clubs lying around, you can easily create a fun and creative indoor mini golf course using cardboard! Design a target golf box with obstacles like ramps, tunnels, or small “bunkers” made from additional pieces of cardboard.

This is the perfect activity for winter days or sick days when you can’t leave the house but still want to have a blast. It’s a great way to work on precision and coordination, all while keeping the whole family entertained indoors!

Turn your cardboard into a thrilling race car track where kids can race and compete! Simply lay down strips of cardboard to create a winding racecourse, and add creative obstacles or ramps for extra excitement.

To make it even more engaging, have kids build their own race cars using Legos, giving them something else to build and customize before they hit the track. This activity combines building, racing, and friendly competition, making it a perfect way for kids to have hours of active fun!

Remember making those fun crafts in school? Bring that nostalgia to life by creating a cardboard TV that scrolls through your kids’ artwork or stories! Use a large cardboard box to create the TV frame and then cut a long strip of cardboard to serve as the “screen” that you can roll.

Kids can color, draw, or write stories on the scroll, and by turning a knob or pulling the scroll, they can watch their creations come to life as they “scroll” through the artwork. This craft combines creativity with storytelling and is a great way to keep kids busy while they design and personalize their own mini art show!

If your kids are animal lovers, try crafting cardboard animals for a fun and creative project! Inspired by Recycled Crafts, you can easily turn cardboard into lions, elephants, giraffes, or even their favorite pets. Simply cut out the shapes, paint, and decorate with markers, googly eyes, or extra cardboard details to bring the animals to life.

This activity is a great way to combine art, learning, and imagination, allowing kids to create their own mini zoo! Looking for more fun crafts? There are endless possibilities with cardboard—whether it’s building animal habitats or creating a full cardboard zoo!

Build a Cardboard Fort

Why settle for a standard fort when you can create an epic cardboard castle? With a stack of boxes, some paint, and tape, the possibilities are endless. Add towers, drawbridges, or even windows to make it look like a true medieval masterpiece.

Make the castle extra cozy by lining the inside with pillows and blankets, creating the perfect spot for playtime or quiet reading. Kids will love the opportunity to design, build, and rule over their very own kingdom!

Turn an open space into an exciting cardboard box maze! Use large boxes to build a labyrinth of tunnels for kids to crawl through, and make it even more engaging by adding fun obstacles. Hang streamers for them to push aside or place blown-up balloons inside for them to navigate around.

This activity is perfect for burning off energy and encouraging problem-solving as kids figure out how to find their way through the maze. It’s a thrilling, interactive adventure that’s sure to keep them entertained for hours!

Unleash your child’s imagination by building a cardboard pirate ship or boat! This creative project offers endless fun as kids embark on nautical adventures. Want to take it to the skies instead? Adapt the design into a cardboard airplane or even a space shuttle for intergalactic playtime.

The customizable designs allow kids to add their own flair, whether it’s painting the ship’s sails or drawing control panels for their shuttle. With so many possibilities, this project guarantees hours of imaginative fun!

Transform a regular cardboard fort into something magical by adding light! Cut out windows to let in natural light, or take it a step further by poking holes in the top of the fort and threading Christmas lights through.

The twinkling effect of the lights will captivate young kids and toddlers, turning the fort into a cozy and enchanting play space. Whether it’s a reading nook or a pretend hideout, this simple addition makes any cardboard creation extra special!

Cardboard Games with Boxes

Turn cardboard into oversized dice for a playful twist on classic games! Inspired by The Craft Train, this is a super simple yet exciting project that kids will love. They’ll have a blast rolling these giant dice, whether indoors or outside.

Make multiple dice and use them for games like Yahtzee, Farkle, or even a custom lawn game. The oversized design adds a fun, interactive element that makes familiar activities feel brand new!

Turn a simple cardboard box into an epic marble run! Use strips of cardboard to create ramps, tunnels, and twists, then let the fun begin as kids race marbles through their custom course.

Not only is this a great way to spark creativity, but it also adds a touch of friendly competition. Kids can challenge each other to see whose marble reaches the finish line fastest or redesign the track for endless variations of play.

Create a Puppet Show

Turn a cardboard box into a fantastic puppet theater where your kids can put on their very own performances! Decorate the box to resemble a stage, and then let their imaginations run wild.

For added fun, make sock puppets together to bring the characters to life. Whether it’s a fun story, a silly skit, or a dramatic play, this activity encourages creativity, storytelling, and hours of entertainment. Your kids will love being both the actors and the audience!

Take puppet play to the next level with a shadow puppet theater! This project requires a bit more effort but is incredibly rewarding and fun. You’ll need a cardboard box, some white cloth or parchment paper for the screen, and a light source like a flashlight or lamp.

Cut out the sides of the box to create the theater frame, attach the paper to the front for the “screen,” and use silhouettes or cut-out shapes for the puppets. Shine the light behind to cast shadows on the screen. Kids can get super creative with their shadow stories and experiment with different materials to make unique puppets. It’s an engaging and imaginative way to bring their storytelling to life!

These cardboard ideas for kids are so fun and provide hours of endless entertainment for a very low cost. If you can get your hands on a few boxes, this is a fun way to pass the time.

conclusion

Cardboard is an incredibly versatile and budget-friendly material that can provide hours of creative entertainment for kids. From building imaginative playhouses and forts to creating fun games and learning tools, the possibilities are endless. Whether you’re making a cardboard car, a mini golf course, or crafting adorable animals, these activities encourage creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on learning. Best of all, they’re easy to set up and perfect for rainy days, parties, or quiet time at home. So grab some cardboard, let your kids’ imaginations run wild, and enjoy making memories with these fun, simple crafts!

30+ BEST SHORT CURLY HAIR CC FOR THE SIMS 4 (MEN & WOMEN)

Do your Sims crave a stylish new look with tons of volume and personality? Then short, curly hair CC is the answer! We dive into a treasure trove of over 30 amazing custom content creations for both men and women. From bouncy ringlets to defined coils, this list will have you covered for all your Sim’s curly hair desires. Get ready to unleash your inner stylist and create Sims with short, curly hairstyles that are bursting with character!

AINHOA BY ANTO

Ainhoa is striking textured hairstyle from Anto. It leans more towards medium length, but since the ends don’t quite reach the shoulders, I’m considering it a short style. Plus, just look at those luscious, tousled tresses. Ainhoa is absolutely stunning!

CARLOTA BY ANTO

Similar to Ainhoa, Anto’s Carlota features a striking layered bob with a neat part slightly to the left of center, accompanied by a generous amount of twirled, curled ringlets. While it may not be as fluffy as some other hairstyles on this list, it boasts plenty of texture and body to keep it trendy.

CAROUSEL BY SIMSONTHEROPE

Simsontherope’s Carousel hair is a less voluminous take on the cute, curly hairstyle from The Sims 4: Toddler Stuff. The shorter length gives it a spunkier, more spirited look compared to the original, which now appears softer and sweeter. If you have the Toddler Stuff pack, adding Carousel to your CAS will give you some variety. If you don’t, it serves as a great base game compatible alternative!

JORT HAIR BY OKRUEE

Looking for big and fluffy? Okruee has you covered. This magnificent afro is fit for a queen, with luscious, twisted curls styled to perfection. Even the “unruly” ends enhance the overall look, making it absolutely flawless.

MALE SPLIT CURLY HAIR BY WINGSSIMS

You can never go wrong with classic styles, and a middle part is the epitome of classic! Sure, not everyone can pull it off, but for those who can, why not try some lightly permed bangs or fluffed-out edges? Wingssims’ Male Splity Curly Hair is proof that this look is absolutely bomb!

CURLY BUNCH: RIANNE HAIR BY DIVINECAP

Here’s another stunning afro from divinecap’s Curly Bunch pack, a set of three bold, bouffant, and curly hairstyles that are simply to die for. Rianne stands out as the “short and curly” option, with her tightly-twisted ringlets and sharp cut. But make no mistake—all three hairstyles in this collection are beautiful!

JUDE HAIR BY OKRUEE

Okruee’s Jude Hair is fluffy and angelic, featuring clean, defined whorls that aren’t too kinked or tight. This hairstyle strikes the perfect balance between ‘casually modern’ and ‘classic boy-next-door’.

HYLAS MALE HAIR BY WISTFULCASTLE

WistfulCastle’s Hylas hair is reminiscent of BED & MUSAE’s Nerdy hair. There’s something distinctly Grecian about the well-defined locks, like hand-carved marble curls. These whorls are a bit looser, giving them a more casual and trendy look rather than abstract or artsy. Available in 15 custom colors.

BREONA HAIR BY KOTCAT

Breona is a charming hairstyle with the potential for a touch of sass when you want it. It shares the same texture as Cleo and Gabbie but with slightly less volume. Despite this, the loose curls—similar to aharris00britney’s Gabbie hair—add enough body to keep the style from looking flat. It’s also available in 16 out of 18 EA colors.

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CLEO HAIR BY GREENLLAMAS

Cleo by greenllamas has a similar vibe to aharris00britney’s Gabbie. It’s short, stylish, and full of volume. This CC hairstyle features a side part, though Cleo’s is on the opposite side. The curls are slightly less defined—more relaxed than beach waves, but definitely between them and loose curls.

GABBIE HAIR BY AHARRIS00BRITNEY

Not quite an afro, but just as full, thick, and beautifully textured, aharris00britney’s Gabbie hair is a stylish short-medium cut with a chic side part and, of course, plenty of curls. The curls are too loose to be considered ringlets, yet too defined to be called waves.

HARI HAIR BY MARSO

Marso’s Hari hair shares a similar vibe with clumsyalien’s Adriana Hair: clean, elegant, and featuring artfully tousled curls that highlight its slightly off-center part. While it doesn’t include a two-tone accessory overlay like Adriana’s, it does come in EA’s standard swatches, offering a good range of hair colors to choose from.

NERDY HAIR BY BED & MUSAE

These curls evoke the look of a Grecian statue: clear, detailed, and incredibly defined. They resemble hand-carved swirls with a clay-like texture and distinct separation between each whorl. Viewed from that angle, they have an artsy quality that many Simmers are likely to appreciate.

X3 FORTNITE CONVERSION/EDIT BY BUSTEDPIXELS

BustedPixels, a talented content creator, has made a name for themself by converting and editing Fortnite assets for other games. One such project is the “Fortnite Misc Hair Set 01 Conversion/Edit.” This conversion makes Fortnite hairstyles usable in The Sims 4, allowing players to add a unique flair to their Sims with iconic Fortnite looks.

KIALA HAIR BY HELLFROZEOVER

This hairstyle combines classic pixie cut elements with trendy, sophisticated curls. It’s a stunning mix of high-fashion flair and no-nonsense elegance—think Boss Lady meets a quietly intelligent art curator, in the best possible way. It comes in EA’s standard 18-swatch palette, offering both natural and unconventional color options.

ILLUSIONS: ADRIANA HAIR BY CLUMSYALIEN

Clumsyalien’s content is quite similar to okruee’s, featuring a distinctly Maxis Match texture with a touch of Alpha CC detail. It strikes a balance between realistic and stylized. Their Adriana hair, from the Illusions CAS pack, is short and elegant. It features a slightly off-center part and artfully tousled curls. Plus, it offers a cool two-toned option.

SERAPHIM (MALE HAIR) BY WISTFUL CASTLE

Yes, the Sim model is stunning, but setting aside Wistful Castle’s impressive CAS skills, this Seraphim hair is truly spectacular! The curls are clean, crisp, and neatly styled, twisting and sitting perfectly on the Sim’s head. It’s by far my favorite curly hairstyle for male frames—I honestly can’t find a single flaw. It even looks fantastic in Laptop Mode!

BONNIE HAIR BY OKRUEE

BustedPixels, a talented content creator, has made a name for themself by converting and editing Fortnite assets for other games. One such project is the “Fortnite Misc Hair Set 01 Conversion/Edit.” This conversion makes Fortnite hairstyles usable in The Sims 4, allowing players to add a unique flair to their Sims with iconic Fortnite looks.

MAELA HAIR BY WONDERCARLOTTA

Wondercarlotta, a creator on the Sims 4 modding scene, has released a hair mod called “Maela Hair.” This hairstyle is available for all ages, from teen to elder, and even works with hats in-game. It also comes in all 24 of the base game’s color swatches, giving players plenty of options to customize their Sims’ look.

HILARY BY SIMSTROUBLE

Simstrouble’s Hilary hair is a spunky, fluffy style with curls and playful, wayward strands, finished off with a vibrant bandana-turned-hairband accessory. The hairband is integrated into the hairstyle, so it can’t be removed or worn with hats. However, it’s absolutely perfect on its own!

DAVID HAIRSTYLE BY ANTO

Anto, a popular creator for The Sims 4, has designed a hairstyle called “David.” This virtual hairpiece caters to players who want a curly style for their male Sims. If you’re looking to add a touch of personality to your Sims, the David Hairstyle might be the perfect choice!

CLOSE CURLS BY KIARA24

Just as described: a chopped-short style with tight, close curls. It may look a bit unruly, but that’s part of its charm. Plus, it’s a versatile hairstyle that works for all ages and comes in 40 custom colors!

JOSHUA HAIR BY STEPHANINE

These curls (and the model wearing them) are absolutely stunning. Nicely defined and casually styled, this “low maintenance, just-rolled-out-of-bed” look is something many people aspire to achieve. Plus, it’s pretty and Base Game Compatible!

TORI; OBLIVION RECOLOR BY TEKRI | RECOLORS BY EVOXYR

The hair that supposedly served as the base mesh for this edit and recolor is, quite frankly, drastically different from the reworked product. The original was long, featured a braid, and had wavy rather than curly ends. Not sure what happened in the transformation, but fortunately, you don’t need the original mesh for evoxyr’s gorgeous custom locks to work in-game. Just look at those beautiful ringlets!

MEDIUM MID CURLY BY KIARAZURK

KiaraZurk, a talented 3D hair creator, has designed a hairstyle named “Medium Mid Curly.” This style offers a shoulder-length, curly look that’s perfect for Sims with a touch of wildness. Whether you’re aiming for a carefree or glamorous vibe, “Medium Mid Curly” could be the hairpiece to complete your Sim’s unique look.

OKURRT BY SHESPEAKSSIMLISH

Have you ever seen hair as textured and beautiful as this? I was instantly smitten by those pale-green curls! Shespeakssimlish’s Okurrt hair features a stunning mix of clean, clearly-defined curls, from big, bouncy ringlets to smaller, tighter spirals. The variety in curl sizes, combined with the added ombres, makes this hairstyle one of the most intriguing on the list!

CALI HAIR BY CAROL

This is probably my personal favorite CC from this list. It ticks all the boxes—short, curly, and beautiful. It’s fully BGC and features a playful chunk of curly bangs right at the front. So cute! It has a hint of manic-pixie-girl energy but remains soft and subdued. I absolutely love this Maxis Match style. 10/10 recommend!

OPHELIE HAIR BY WONDERCARLOTTA

This hairstyle was created by the anonymous CC creator wondercarlotta in response to a request for a look modeled after the requester’s own hair. If that’s the case, the requester has absolutely stunning hair! Just look at that volume and spunky elegance! This is hands-down one of my favorites so far.

FLUFFY MALE CURLY HAIR ER0714 BY WINGSSIMS

It’s fluffy male hair—what’s not to love? Short, curly, and as bouncy as a rubber ball, this hairstyle looks like something angels would wear. You can’t convince me otherwise. It comes in fifteen colors, but those curls in blond? They’re truly something special.

VINTAGE CURLY HAIR ER0808 BY WINGSSIMS

Vintage hairstyles always have an undeniable charm, and this stunning alpha CC by wingssims is no exception! The big, bouffant, perfectly-defined tresses exude strong 60s Sweetheart vibes, and it’s hard not to love them. The style is bouncy, shiny, and comes in fifteen original colors.

ZAID HAIR BY ICE-CREAMFORBREAKFAST

This is a quick yet adorable edit of the curly Male hair from TS4 Tiny Living. It reduces some of the volume and gives it a more styled appearance, compared to the original mop of curls. If you don’t have Tiny Living, no worries—the creator included both an override and a BGC standalone version, so you don’t need the original mesh.

MATTHEW HAIR BY MARIGOLDE

Ignore the Sim model’s bored expression—this Matthew hair is anything but flat! It features short, kinked curls with a few unruly strands and a charming just-rolled-out-of-bed look. The overall effect is surprisingly attractive. Plus, the creator deserves extra credit for making this CC unisex.

JACKSON HAIR BY OKRUEE

Named after Jackson Rod Stewart (from Hannah Montana fame), okruee’s Jackson hair embodies that “sweet country heartthrob” vibe. With its wavy bangs, perfectly balanced length, and casually pushed-back curls, it creates a charmingly picturesque look. The preview photo showcasing the curls in straw yellow only enhances the rural charm.

MARCIA BY SIMSTROUBLE

Simstrouble’s Marcia hair is a stunning blend of thin ringlets intertwined with luscious curls. The length is a comfortable short-medium cut, featuring plenty of wayward curls and a pushed-back side part. It strikes the perfect balance between sensible and slightly trendy!

CHARLOTTE HAIR BY FERALPOODLES

Here’s another custom hairstyle that straddles the line between short and medium length. Feralpoodles’ Charlotte hair has a distinct “styled” appearance, as if someone used a flat iron to twist the ends of their wavy hair into clean, bouncy curls. It’s a classic combination that complements almost any face shape!

CONCLUSION

With a vast selection of over 30 short, curly hairstyles available as CC, you can give your Sims in The Sims 4 all sorts of personality and flair. Whether you prefer cute and wispy curls or bold and voluminous ones, there’s a CC option to suit every Sim and your creative vision. So dive into the world of CC hair and get ready to design some truly head-turning Sims!