Ask Ollie
Cardboard Tube Castle Kingdom
Here's one to try together!
Turn empty tubes into towers, a drawbridge and a story worth telling!
Reviewed by our team.
Safety first
- cutting notches in tubes should be done by an adult
- scissors can cut if misused, so supervise young children
- small toy figures may be a choking hazard for toddlers
- crayon or tape pieces could be put in mouths by very young children
What you need
- Cardboard box, 1 box lid
- Paper, 3 to 4 sheets
- Crayons or markers, a handful
- Kid scissors, 1 pair
- Small waterproof toys (not for under 3s), a few figures (optional)
- Toilet paper tubes, 6 to 8
- Painter's tape, 1 roll
How to do it
Grown-up prep: Collect 6 to 8 toilet paper tubes and one sturdy box lid. Keep scissors and tape within an adult's reach. Supervise closely with scissors, and keep small figures, crayons and tape bits away from children who still mouth things.
- Plan your castle. Where will the towers go on the lid? Ask: Which spot should the tallest tower go in, and why?
- Tape the tubes upright onto the lid to make towers.
- Grown-up time! Cut little notches in the tops of some towers. A grown-up does this
- Draw and color a paper drawbridge for your castle door.
- Make some paper flags and color them in.
- Attach the drawbridge and flags to your castle.
- Move in your toy figures and look around your castle. Ask: Who lives here, and what are they like?
- Act out a story in your castle kingdom.
- Now invite a friend to visit! What will your next castle have? Ask: Would your next castle have more towers, a moat or a secret room?
Play it again
- Dragon visit: add a paper dragon and make up a story about how the castle keeps it happy.
- Tall tower challenge: build the tallest tower you can and see if it stands up.
- Kingdom map: draw roads, rivers and a village around your castle on a big sheet of paper.
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