Cardboard Critters is a system of free-to-access templates for kids to create toys out of cardboard.

Project Values

Cardboard is a cheap material that many people already have! It's widely available as post-consumer waste and is fully recyclable and biodegradable.
To build from often overlooked post-consumer waste is an act of anticonsumption. These projects teach "reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink" through real practice.
In short- Free art education is good! Free toys are good! These projects are designed to open the doors to art and STEM fields.
Each project centers around creating a new mechanism, gradually building a knowledge of complex making techniques. These mechanisms vary in inspiration from puppetry to clockwork to pop-up paper engineering.

At age 9, kids are developing fine motor abilities that benefit from a variety of explorations in tools and tasks. Kids are building confidence in copying and producing final drafts. At this age, kids are easily encouraged by success- now is the perfect time to build love of learning through confidence-building activities! (Yardsticks: Child and Adolescent Development, Chip Wood).
- Cutting cardboard with knife
- Bending cardboard
- Optional decorations such as flags and pop-ups
Trading Game
Create multiple caterpillars with different fun designs, trading and sharing with friends!

At age 12, kids are developing increased fine motor ability, a patience for practice, and a self confidence that make creative tasks more pleasurable. It is common for kids at this age to enjoy handiwork and complex visual-motor tasks including designing and making. Kids at this age are forming identity through their activities and interests- now is the perfect time to build confidence through craft! (Yardsticks: Child and Adolescent Development, Chip Wood).
- Cutting cardboard with craft knife
- Scoring cardboard with craft knife
- Peeling cardboard for aesthetics and mechanics
- Creating cardboard spring
Let’s race!
Place your frog at one end of a table and see how few hops it takes to make it all the way across. Challenge a friend to try to beat your score!
Leapfrog!
Try to hop your frog over and across obstacles.

At age 15, teens often enjoy learning how things work, such as mechanisms and technology. Teens can better commit to longer tasks and are more willing to admit error and try things multiple times. Teens at this age take pleasure in developing skills that express an individual self and emerging adulthood. Now is the perfect time for expressive arts and making! (Yardsticks, Chip Wood).
- Cutting cardboard with craft knife
- Scoring cardboard with craft knife
- Peeling cardboard
- Creating pop-up wing mechanism
- Creating noisemaker mechanism
At this age, focus is more placed on making than on play.
Show a Friend!
Show a friend how the mechanism works. What new things can you come up with together?