How To Make A Cardboard Box Car For Kids?

Written by MomJunction
Last Updated on

Is your kid a supercar enthusiast? Do you want to make use of his love for cars to get him hooked on to some craft as well? Or does your kid have a school project and needs help to make a car?

A great idea to make a car model at home is to use some cardboard. Read on to find out the step by step instructions to help your kid make a cardboard car.

Three Simple Methods On How To Make A Cardboard Car:

Here are the detailed instructions to make a cardboard box car. Help your kid unleash his creativity by following these steps:

Method 1:

You Will Need:

  • A large cardboard box
  • Packing tape
  • Markers
  • Box cutters
  • Paper cups
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Bottle caps
  • Paper plates
  • Paints and paintbrushes
  • Glue

How To:

1. Seal all the ends and sides of the cardboard box using the packing tape. Make sure you help your kid seal the top and bottom parts of the box too.

2. On the longer sides of the box, trace out two doors. Start making the line around the halfway point in length and bring them downwards. In this way, the flat side will be along the top of the box.

3. Use the box cutter to help your kid make the doors.

4. Now cut along the top part of the box from the edges and make it two-thirds of the way around. Begin at the front of one door and move backward towards the rear and along the other side. Make sure you don’t cut it out completely, and the flap remains attached to the hood.

5. Now lift the flap and fold it downward in half. Tape the top fold with the bottom part so that the windshield you created stays secure.

6. From the folded section, cut a large rectangle using the box cutter.

7. Cut some part of the back and fold it down to form the seats. Let your kid paint the body of the car, outside as well as the interiors.

8. Cut out the bottom of the paper cups and glue them at the front of the car to make headlights. Glue the popsicle sticks between the two headlights to make the grill. Glue one popsicle stick between the windshield to make the divider. Glue the bottle caps to make the tail lights and signal lights.

9. Glue the paper plates on both sides of the car to make the wheels. Use a black marker to add detailing to the wheels.

10. Use the marker or paints to add more detailing to your car, like writing a number plate.

11. Glue one paper plate to the dashboard to make the steering wheel.

12. You can also make a special car logo on a bottle cap and glue it to the front.

[ Read: How To Make A Cardboard Playhouse ]

Method 2:

You Will Need:

  • Cereal or tissue box or any small cardboard box
  • Box cutter
  • Scissors
  • A ruler to measure
  • Plastic straws
  • Cardboard
  • Paint and paintbrushes
  • Marker
  • Buttons
  • Glue

How To:

1. Make a cut on the sides and the top of the box. You can begin about four inches from the front and about three inches below the top of the box. Cut towards the top, across the top and again three inches on the other side in a downward cut.

2. Fold the front part that you have just cut to make a front end.

3. If you want to make a sedan car, repeat the cutting process to make the rear portion of the car. In case you are not making a sedan, skip the step.

4. Now pierce the sides of the car using the sharp end of the scissors. Do it where you will place the wheels. To make sure the wheels are at an equal distance, measure with the ruler first.

5. Insert the plastic straws through the holes at the front and the back to place the wheels.

6. Let your kid draw the wheels on another piece of cardboard using the marker. Help him cut them out along the lines. Make sure that all four wheels are of the same size.

7. Make a small hole in the center of each wheel. Connect the wheels using the straw axle.

8. Allow your kid to color and decorate the car using paints. Your kid can use different types of decorative materials to add personal touches to the car.

9. Glue the buttons to make headlights. This method on how to make a car out of cardboard is interesting.

[ Read: Sensory Activities For Kids ]

Method 3:

You Will Need:

  • A large cardboard box
  • Box cutter
  • Strong tape
  • Paints and paintbrush
  • Paper plates
  • Glue
  • Marker pens
  • Ruler to measure

How To:

1. Tape all ends of the box to make sure there are no sides left open. You can add a double layer of tape at the edges to make the box stronger.

2. Cut out a square from the top of the box but make sure you leave some part at the rear to make the hood.

3. Ask your kid to paint the paper plates to make the wheels and leave them aside to dry. Once dry, let him stick the wheels to the sides of the car using glue. You can help measure out the distance between the wheels first to make sure they are equidistant.

4. Your kid can use the marker pens to add fun details like number plate or other designs on the body of the car.

[ Read: Educational Activities For Kids ]

Making a car out of cardboard boxes can be a lot of fun. Make sure you monitor your kid while he uses the box cutters.

Do you have any more ideas on how to make a cardboard car? Do share them here with other moms.

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