Cardboard toys are timeless. So timeless that no matter how many tech advances are made in this particular industry or how fancy big box stores become with their own lines, people will still be coming up with creative cardboard toys for children to play with. After all, they're cheap, they're eco-friendly and they're pretty educational.
Through a variety of cardboard toys -- from simple to more complex -- children are encouraged to exercise their creativity and imagination on a very active level. They also learn more about the physical world around them whether that's through the idea of environmentally friendly products or simply interacting with such objects in real spaces. Either way, cardboard toys serve many purposes that children benefit from.
15 Creative Cardboard Toys
15
Color Pencil Packaging
Julia Karwasz Designs a Reusable Cardboard Case for Art Tools
14
DIY Cardboard Toys
MacoshDesign Created Downloadable Templates to Make Eco-Friendly Toys
13
DIY Yoyo Kits
The Modernized Sling-Slang Yoyo is a Fun Homemade Project
12
Playful Geometric Domes
This DIY Cardboard Playhouse Provides Inexpensive Playtime for Children
11
DIY Mechanical Playthings
The Strawbees Toy Kit Targets Aspiring Architects and Engineers
10
DIY Arctic Cardboard Playsets
Mr. Printables' Templates Make Cute Recycled Cardboard Toys
9
Cardboard Building Block Branding
The Packaging for GIGI Bloks is Made from Sustainable Materials
8
Cardboard Spaceship Kits
The Makedo Space Pod Launch Kit Provides Interactive and Imaginative Play
7
Cardboard Zoo Playsets
The Mini Jungle Cardboard Toy Set Provides an Instant Zoo
6
DIY Planetarium Papercrafts
This Science Paper Craft Projects the Night Sky onto Interior Walls
5
Pop-Up Notebook Dollhouses
Rock & Pebble's Pop-Up Book is a Customizable Dollhouse
4
Whimsical Cardboard Forts
Kinfolk Magazine Had Kids Dream Up the Ultimate Cardboard Playhouse
3
DIY Drawing Robots
Makers Toolbox Teaches Kids to Create a Functional 'Scribbler Robot'
2
Papercraft Pinball Machines
The Pinbox 3000 Kit Makes a Handmade Version of the Retro Arcade Game
1
Metropolitan Cardboard Puzzles
This Retro Puzzle Toy Celebrates The Spirit of London
Related Ideas
Upcycled Waste Material Furniture
This Cardboard Furniture Design by Lee Lin is Modular
Korean Game-Inspired Desk Accessories
These Playful Desk Accessories Feature Unexpected Forms
Expressive Gaming Campaigns
This Monopoly Campaign Shows How Playing Teaches Emotional Skills
Building Block Tech Stations
The Conceptual 'LEGO Brick' Wireless Charger Platform is Toy-Like
Sustainable Lightweight Cat Toys
A Team of Designers Create the Pet-Friendly Cat Box
Aquatic Amphibian Children's Toys
The Conceptual 'Tacos Frog' Helps Kids Learn About Ecosystems
Child-Created Playgrounds
LEGO's Fly Away Isles Was Guided by the Minds of Kids
DIY Wooden Pinball Puzzles
The ROKR 3D Pinball Machine 3D Wooden Puzzle is Interactive
Kid-Friendly AR Helmets
The 'AR Helmet' Concept by Designer Dot Supports Creativity
Meditative Screen-Free Toys
Calm Tonie Shares Mindfulness Activities & Breathwork for Kids
Kid-Powered Imagination Campaigns
Lunchables' A.I. vs K.I. Proves Kids' Limitless Creativity
Playful Thermal Printer Cameras
The Children’s Print Camera by Koool Design is Easy to Use
Color-In Photo Cameras
The 'Potto' Toy Camera Concept Encourages Kids to Color in Prints
Imaginative Soft Toys
Blabla's Little Monster Soft Toys Promote Listening, Curiosity and Dreams
Eco-Friendly Racing Toys
VTech's Turbo Edge Riders Inspires Racing and Recycling
Eco-Friendly Bath Essentials
Bebo Seeks to Reimagine the Packaging of Kid's Bath Products
Furniture Waste-Made Toys
ÉCAL Students Redefine What a Sustainable Toy Is
Creative STEM-Based Toys
JitteryGit's Educational STEM Toys Foster Creativity in Kids
Hair Styling Toys
Casdon's Dyson Toys are Child-Friendly Styling Aids
Interactive Creativity Home Displays
The 'Doodle' Interactive Wall by Hyungwoo Lee is Immersive
Technical Education Car Toys
The Conceptual 'GoCar' Helps Kids Learn to Code Autonomous Vehicles
Educational Climate Change Toys
The 'Habitat' Educational Toy Brick Sets Come in Two Options
High-Tech Eco-Conscious Furniture
The WoodenWood Project Upcycles and Utilizes Robotic Printing
Multisensory Oven Playsets
Cookeez Makery Helps Kids Create a Sweetly Scented Best Friend
Bookshelf Board Games
These Classic Board Games are Disguised as Vintage Books
Buildable Marble Mazes
The LEGO Magic Maze is a Challenging, Skill-Building Tabletop Game
Sustainable Sensorial Play Pads
The Stokke PlayPad by Marius Kindler Adapts to Growing Children
Introductory STEM Toy Sets
The Zig & Go from Djeco Combines Music and Forces in an Educational Toy
Kid-Envisioned Urban Environments
The Little Big Playmat Takes a Creative Path to Design Problems
Recycled Material Lamp Designs
The 'Cozy Cleo' Lamp from EveryOtherDay is Eco-Friendly
Playful Coding Pets
Pyxel Helps Kids Program Actions, Expressions, Tricks & Sounds
Children's STEM Subscription Boxes
The ENGINO® STEM CLUB Subscription Box Promotes Learning
Interactive Sensory Tables
The Fisher-Price Sensory Bright Light Station Offers Six Play Modes
Tetrahedral Desk Puzzles
Revision Designs The Tetra Desk Toy for Craighill
Nature-Inspired Pet Toys
A Team of Designers Create the Unique Triangle Toy for Pets
AI-Enhanced STEM Toys
The Kidx Classbox Fuses Montessori Methods with NFC Tech & AI
Playful Restaurant Pop-Ups
The Play-Doh Restaurant of Imagination Turns Kids' Creations Edible
Cardboard Box Furniture
The 'Karton' Furniture Collection by Illya Goldman Gubin is Sturdy
Multi-Sensory Education Devices
The Conceptual 'Squashy' VR Education Device Has a Tactile Form
Space-Exploring STEAM Toys
LeapFrog's Magic Adventures™ Line Arrives for Kids Five and Up
Travel-Inspired Toy Catalogs
The Tennessee Playcation Catalog Shares the Joy of Travel
Combination Building Block Toys
The 'QUBTRIX' Omni-Compatible Wooden Bricks Work with Other Toys
Striking E-Commerce Packaging
Maksim Arbuzov Designed the 'Build Yourself' Boxes for Barboza
Child-Friendly Camera Concepts
The Camera for Kids Concept Reimagines the Digital Camera
Cardboard-Resembling Illusion Cakes
Wholegreen Bakery Cooks up the Cardboard Cake
Repurposed Pasta Boxes
Barilla & Marie Kondo are Sharing How to Reuse Packaging
Empathy-Building Play Programs
The Barbie School of Friendship Helps Kids Develop Social Skills
Interactive Play Experiences
LEGO's Superpower Academy Connects Families with the Power of Play
Autonomous Vehicle Kits
This Kit Teaches Kids How AI is Changing Transportation Dynamics
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Transforming Imaginative Furniture Designs
The Kiddie Couch Encourages a Sense of Play
Upcycled Circular Design Products
Cyrc Designs Expansive Products with Sustainable Themes
Dog-Friendly Board Games
The Dog’s Best Friend Game Incorporates Enrichment and Training
Ergonomic Dog Toys
Earth Rated's Debut Dog Toy Collection is Durable, Stimulating & Safe
Big Apple Toy Blocks
These Machi Town (New York) Blocks by kiko+ Encourage Creative Play
DIY Candy Jewelry Kits
Cricket's Candy Creations Boasts the Candy Jewelry Craft Kit
Geometric Design Toys
The Little Toy by Eames Office Has Been Revived After Six Decades
Solar-Powered Rover Kits
4M's 'Solar Rover Kit' Educates Kids About the Power of Green Science
Calming Stacking Stone Toys
The Calm Club Relaxing Wooden Stacking Stones are Soothing
AI-Powered Toy Cars
Rocar is an Interactive Ride-On Robot Car for Kids Ages Two to Six
Gen Alpha Creativity Workshops
The LEGO Group Launched Free Creativity Workshops for Ages 6-12
Forest-Inspired Screenless Toys
Boogie Board Launched the Sketch Pals Forest Friends Line
Timber Tech-Packed Dolls
These teenage engineering Wooden Dolls Come in Eight Varieties
Paper-Made Circuit Boards
This Single-Use Circuit Board is Thin, Flexible and Disposable
Multifunctional Cardboard QSR Packaging
McDonald's and Leo Burnett Unveil the Tablebag
Modular Robotics Kits
ioCube Fuses the Simplicity of Building Blocks with Advanced Circuitry
Nature-Inspired Indoor Playgrounds
Sarit Shani Hay Designs a New Playground in Tel Aviv
Buildable Paper Playsets
Playper's Curious Kingdom: Castle Playset Encourages Creativity
Kid-Friendly Telescopes
The LeapFrog Magic Adventures Telescope Shares Images Taken by NASA
STEM Holiday Shops
CircuitMess' Holiday Gift Shop Has Presents That Teach Coding & Creative Design
Art-Focused STEAM Kits
Robot in a Can Helps Build STEAM Skills Through Art and Design Education
Pixelated Tile Toy Sets
The 'VOXART' Click Tile Construction Set is Easy to Build and Customize
Digital Collectible Displays
Gatebox's Digital Figure Box Shows Off Virtual Collectibles
Portable Drawing Tablets
smART sketcher GO! is a Portable Projector for Kids Who Love to Draw
Intelligent Portable Board Games
Kai Xia Designs the EIFplay Chessboard with a Digital Approach
DIY Squishy Collectibles
An Elmer's Squishies Kit Creates Customized Surprise Toys
Brainteaser Advent Calendars
The Project Genius Advent Calendar Shares 12 Days of Puzzles
Toy Block-Inspired Wooden Bookshelves
Waiting Woood Designs the New Rotating Picture Book Rack
Coding Education Car Toys
The TPBot Smart Coding Car Works with Building Blocks
Discarded Toys-Created Homes
Wallmakers Designs the Toy Storey Home with Repurposed Toys
Eco Cardboard Can-Carriers
Wild Rose Craft Brewery Debuts Cardboard Can-Carrier to Reduce Waste
Weekend Excursion City Vehicles
The Playbox Urban Mobility Vehicle is Imagined for 2040
Green Thermoformed Cardboard Trays
Cascades Launches Innovative Packaging for Fresh Produce
Toy-Specific Storage Systems
Step2 Debuts a Toy Storage Box for Developing Organizational Skills
Visually Impaired Puzzle Blocks
LEGO Presents Braille Bricks for an Inclusive Playing
Cognitive Toy Subscriptions
Lovevery is a Subscription that Delivers Developmental Toys to Kids
Sandbox-Like Modular Storage Cabinets
Roee Magdassi Channels Childhood Whimsy for Poventura
Recycled Cardboard Toilet Papers
These Tesco Paper Products are for the Kitchen and Bathroom
STEM Subscription Crates
KiwiCo's STEM Subscription Crates Equip Children with Valuable Skills
Playtime-Encouraging Toy Capsules
Oreo Unveils the Art of Play Toys in Black and White
Magnetic Building Blocks
'The NIA' Launched 'Magnecraft' EVA Foam Magnetic Blocks on Kickstarter
Confidence-Promoting Conversation Cards
TableTalk is a Card Deck of Mealtime Conversations
Natural Scavenger Hunt Toys
Craft-tastic Nature: Scavenger Hunt Potions Inspire Play in Nature
Reprogrammable Robot Companions
Quarky Teaches Kids AI, Robotics and Programming Through Play
Insect Habitat Toys
Smart Lab Toys' Insect Inspector Lab Bug Playground Encourages STEM Learning
STEM-Inspired Electric Skateboards
The Lectec LS Kids Electric Skateboard is Ready to Build
ASMR-Inspired Soothing Toys
These Sensory Motion Bubblers Visually Create Calm
Youth-Focused Architectural Toys
The Freckled Frog's 'Happy Architect' Toy is for Curious Youth
Magnetic Building Tiles
'Magna-Tiles' are Magnetic Building Sets That Promote STEM Concepts
Tomato Stem-Based Boxes
The ICP Created Corrugated Cardboard out of Tomato Stems
Child-Created Card Games
The New Cards Against Humanity Pack is Written Entirely by Kids
Baby-Focused Learning Toys
Matchstick Monkey's Playtime Toys Help Babies Develop Fine Motor Skills
Play-Inspiring Workshops
LEGO is Sharing a Free Workshop Series Featuring Renowned Creatives
DIY Robotics Toys
The WindBots from Thames & Kosmos are Intricate Learning Toys
Celebratory Puzzle Toys
The 50th Anniversary Rubik's Cube Commemorates Five Decades of Play
Interactive Educational Coding Toys
The imagiCharm Teaches Children the Basics of Coding
Braille Building Blocks
LEGO's Play with Braille Bricks Teach Kids with Visual Impairments to Read
Dream-Inspired Building Toys
Lego Dreamzzz Encourages Kids to Build with Their Imagination
Mess-Free Eco Craft Kits
Brainstorm's Create N Colour Let Kids Magically Paint with Water
Kid-Focused Meal Containers
b.box Launches the Kid-Approved Eco-Friendly Bento Boxes for Meals
AI Board Game Robots
SenseTime's AI-Powered Robot Helps Players Strategize
Origami-Inspired Playful Magnetic Blocks
Artur Tikhonenko Designs the Trido Building Blocks
Multifunctional Building Planks
'KEVA Planks' are Diverse Building Toys for All Ages
Phygital Kids Board Games
Playshifu's New 'Tacto' Board Game Combines AR with Physical Figurines
Eco-Friendly Paper Cameras
Paper Shoot's Cameras are Sustainable, Minimalist and Lightweight
DIY Digital Music Systems
Teenage Engineering's Record Factory is Perfect for the Holidays
Hand-Crafted Wooden Stationary Boxes
chengshe.design Designs the ONEBOX with Fidgeting Elements
Video Game-Inspired Outdoor Play
ROXs is Getting Kids Outdoors
Bean-Shaped Vibrant Chalks
Areaware Presents the Colorful New Bean Chalks for Imaginative Drawing
Active Entertainment Systems
Nex Playground Gets People Moving at Home
Smart Fidget Toys
TapTap is for Ages Five to 105 and It Offers Benefits for All
Stone-Like Supportive Toys
Play Maker Stapelstein Expands to the American Market
Exclusive Card Game Decks
Mattel Creations and Kartell Unveil Special Edition UNO Deck
Inspiring Creator-Focused Decks
TikTok Launches a New Creative Content Inspiration Deck
Adult Board Game Campaigns
Hasbro and Ageless Innovation Rebrand Childhood Games for Adults
Digital Brainstorming Tools
Card Buddy Serves as an Online Space to Visualize Ideas and Thoughts
Quirky eCard Platforms
Happiepages Has an Online Celebratory Card for Any Occassion
Life-Sized Toy Construction Sets
The Funphix' 'Standard' is an Educational Outdoor Playset
Sustainable Cardboard Cartons
Yazoo Kids Switches from Plastic to Cardboard Packaging
DIY Nail Art Printers
Preemadonna's DIY Nailbot Kit Gets Girls Interested in STEM
Africa-Themed STEM Crafts
Teni & Tayo Offers a Subscription Box of STEM Crafts Inspired by Africa
Child-Friendly AI Doodles
Dodoboo Uses AI to Turn a Child's Doodles into Art
Learning-Focused Robotics Toys
The Robots In Motion Building Set Ignites STEM Interest in Youth
Cardboard Box-Transformed Furniture
Max Lamb Presents the Box Exhibition at Gallery Fumi
Contemporary Art Puzzle Sets
LEGO's Modern Art Building Set is a Great Buildable Decor
Daily Affirmation-Focused Cards
Joyful Hearts Co. Delivers Self-Confidence with Affirmation Cards
Kid-Friendly Power Tools
The 'SUPCUTTER' is an Easy-to-Use Material-Cutting Powertool
Kid's Felt Building Kits
KNOP KNOP Launches Creative Felt Building Kits for Children's STEM Play
Youth-Focused Coding Dolls
E-liza Dolls Aims to Create a New Generation of Women in STEM
Playful Toy-Inspired Exhibits
The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity Debuts Toys & Play Exhibit