Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Select a large cardboard box. Make the box large enough that when cut open, it will fit over the preschooler, yet not so big and bulky that the child won̵7;t be able to easily move it around. A rectangular box works better than a square box for this cardboard airplane craft. Let the preschooler assist in this choice.
Cut off any flaps on the open side of the box. Lay them aside. Turn the box over and cut a hole large enough to fit over the head and shoulders of the preschooler. The long sides of the box will become the sides of the airplane, while the short sides become the front and tail of the airplane.
Lower the box over the head of the preschooler. When the box is at waist level, measure from the box on one side over the shoulder of the preschooler to the box on the other side. Release the preschooler from the box. Let the preschooler help you cut two wide ribbons the 12 inches longer than the measurement taken. To the front of the preschooler, which will be the instrument panel, and at the back, cut 3-inch slits, two in front and two in back, in line with the shoulders ̵2; one on the left and one on the right. Make these four inches from the edge of the hole cut for the preschooler.
Run, with the help of the preschooler, one strip of ribbon through a front slit down through the top, and up through the center hole. Tie it off. Keeping in mind the shoulder measurements, also tie the ribbon into the slit in the back. Do this on both the right and left sides, and front and back. The box should now fit onto the shoulders of the preschooler.
Cut the wings, using the flaps cut from the lengthwise side of the box or, if there were no flaps to cut off, cut wings from another box. Make two wings, one for each side of the box. On the side to be attached to the airplane body, fold down five inches. Using staples and duct tape, attach the wing to the side of the airplane. Cut a propeller from cardboard and attach it to the front of the airplane.
Cover the preschooler with an apron. Place the airplane on newspapers. Let the preschooler paint the airplane. Once it is dry, let him add stickers in stripes, circles and other shapes to the wings.
Help the preschooler draw buttons, screens and other instruments onto the front shelf left after cutting the hole. Let the preschooler use markers and crayons to color in the different parts of the instrument panel. Help the preschooler settle the airplane around her waist and play with the airplane craft she helped create.