1  | 

I found this helpful Thank You! Your vote will be tallied soon!

Turns out, grandmothers everywhere were right: give a child a gift, and they'll prefer to play with the box.

Cordy received a gift over the holidays that arrived in a large box. While she played with the toy for quite a while, it turns out that the box has been even more interesting than the toy. At first, the box was tossed out into the garage, where I planned to eventually break it down and send it to recycling. But one day, while taking the trash out, Cordy peeked out the door and spotted the large tan rectangle, demanding that I bring it back in.

I figured - eh, why not? She'll play with it for a day or two and then it'll go back in the garage when she loses interest. After all, it's just a box, right? Well, that was weeks ago, and the box is currently sitting just across the room at me, taking up far too much space and looking a little more worn than when it first arrived.

The plain brown box has turned out to be one of the best toys ever. At least once a day, Cordy will find herself bored and retreat to the box, waiting for inspiration to strike and guide her to some new adventure. She will play in the box for over a half hour at a time, sometimes asking me to join in with her game.

What has the box been so far? Here's the short list:

A boat - This is the most common use, and she often grabs a spatula from her play kitchen to serve as the oar.

A space ship - Cordy wants to blast off to the stars all the time, and the box has provided her a wonderful flying machine.

A dog house - Turned on its side, the box is a place for a puppy to lie down and relax. Most often in front of the TV.

An actual box for mailing things - Popular places Cordy asks me to mail her to include the moon and the North Pole.

A bear cave - Cordy will crawl in and completely close up the box, peeking through the cracks at us before roaring as she pops out.

A roller coaster car - Mommy must supply the gentle shaking of the box, of course.

I wonder if she'll tire of playing with the box, but then I remember that she hasn't even figured out that she can turn it upside down and hide in it that way. Next thing you know she'll be asking me to cut a door in the side and making it a house.

I have a feeling the box will be with us until Cordy has played it to death. And on that day I'll probably be a little sad to see this versatile toy, that has sparked so much imagination in my preschooler, end up in the recycling heap.