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Remember back in the day how simple everything was? Don’t get me wrong, I love technology and can’t imagine life without it all around me, but I do know its important to encourage my kids to take a break every now and then.

There are so many fun and creative non-technology related activities that kids can do, especially with stuff already found around the house. I have been challenging my kids all summer to take a break for technology and create something. Whether it’s coloring or building something, I wanted to make sure they were thinking outside of the box!

The Paper & Packaging – How Life Unfolds® campaign is a great initiative that shares fun and unique ways to use paper and packaging materials in your everyday life. To challenge my kids, I saved cardboard boxes, tape and other various materials they could use in their creations. It is amazing what kids come up with when given a bunch of supplies.

First, they started with a traditional cardboard box fort which is pretty basic for now but there are expansion plans in mind:

Including a car ramp on the side!

My daughter made an awesome set of binoculars:

My son made… a video game controller but it is the thought that counts, right?

We even made a game of stacking boxes, kind of like a giant Jenga game. It is so amazing how much fun just a box can be!

Check out The Paper & Packaging – How Life Unfolds® Campaign

Manufacturers and importers of paper and paper-based packaging launched The Paper & Packaging – How Life Unfolds® campaign to encourage creativity, learning and connecting customers with paper and corrugated products.

The website, www.howlifeunfolds.com, is a hub of great information and creative ideas on how to use paper and packaging.

Here are some more fun ways to use Paper + Packaging in fun ways:

1. Read a book – Don’t forget to flex brain muscles while on summer break! Studies shows that reading least 15 pages a day can improve memory and increase mental development.** To get kids excited, set a reading goal and reward them with a prize if they reach their goal.
2. Flower Press – Encourage kids to get outside, stay active and enjoy nature! One way to make it educational (but still fun) is to go on a nature hike to collect flowers and leaves. Afterwards, press them using a DIY flower press made from cardboard, paper and rubber bands. See a how-to video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyuK6qwlqBg
3. PenPal Letters – Kick email to the curb and go old school! Studies show that 92% of millennial parents believe that writing by hand has helped their child develop skills such as hand eye coordination**. Team up with friends and family across the country (or around the world) and have kids send penpal letters back and forth. Spice things up with some colored pens, stickers and other art supplies.
4. Coloring books – Coloring inside the lines is a proven way to train a child’s brain to focus and also build fine motor skills.*** To make coloring more fun for kids (and as a good alternative to TV time), purchase coloring books that feature their favorite characters and grab some sparkly or scented markers to make things more fun.
5. Box Fort – With summer, comes some rainy days. When you are stuck inside, why not kick the imagination into high gear and build a fort out of cardboard boxes! Whether the kids are defending their castle from the evil king or a princess needs rescuing, anything is possible in a cardboard fort. Help them build one out of used cardboard boxes and decorate with stickers and other craft items (See some creative ideas here or take the easy way and buy one here).

*Radiological Society of North America

**Paper & Packaging Back to School Report

***Scholastic Parents: The Learning Toolkit

Remember to please recycle creations when done!