It’s a typical scene at birthday parties of young children: A child opens a toy and instead of being excited to play with it, they immediately start playing with the box it comes in. As Antoinette Portis says in her classic book, Not a Box,  “A box is just a box . . . unless it's not a box. From mountain to rocket ship, a small rabbit shows that a box will go as far as the imagination allows.” It reminds us that sometimes, the most magical play begins with the simplest items.  

Just the other day, my 7-year-old transformed a few paper shopping bags into a “monster museum.” After a particularly snowy stretch here in Rochester this February, she built an entire zoo using her stuffed animals and empty food boxes from our recycling bin. No instructions, just her imagination leading the way.  

This kind of play fosters creativity by encouraging kids to invent their own worlds, builds literacy and storytelling skills as they narrate their creations, and gives them a sense of control in a world where so much is decided for them.  

Whether at home, in classrooms, or in Primary Project playrooms, adults can help make space for this kind of imaginative play. Try keeping a box filled with clean, recyclable items like cereal boxes, orange juice containers, paper bags, and a few basic art supplies. Then, simply tell your child, “These can be anything you want them to be.”  

You’ll be amazed at what they come up with.

Check out the “Monster Museum” made from markers and paper bags.

A homemade zoo on a bleak February day filled with meaningful opportunities for literacy!

"Reservation Table"

A toy snake in their “habitat” made from an empty pasta box 

Who would have guessed a used carnitas box could be a cozy home for a 3 year old purple cat? 

A hamster named Carrots

—Lindsay Dryden

Primary Project Coordinator