Cardboard Box Desk for Little Kids

What young child doesn't love to doodle, scribble and color? They'll love to do all those things even more when you make them a desk of their own! It's really simple, requires things you already have at home, and will prevent little ones from accidentally coloring on your tables.

Take a large cardboard box and remove all flaps. Tape the bottom closed if necessary. Turn the box upside down and draw an arch on one side. The side you choose should be one of the longest sides of the box. The arch should be drawn in the center of the side of the box. Cut the archway out on one side, then the other. These arches will allow the child's legs to go under the box and will allow the child to set the box on his or her lap.

Cover the top of the box in clear or decorative adhesive paper. This will prevent liquids from soaking into the box, should there be an accident with paints or water. If you're using decorative shelf paper the pattern shouldn't be too distracting.

Now look around the house for empty boxes, small canisters, and other containers. These containers will hold markers, crayons, ruler, paints, brushes, and other supplies. Use a piece of double-sided tape to temporarily hold the boxes and other containers in place. Stick them to the outside of the box, on the sides and in the back. The containers should be plainly visible from the front of the desk.

After all the boxes and containers are in position, use colored tape to wrap around the "desk", further supporting the boxes and containers. Tape now comes in colors of gold, blue, silver or red and will look attractive when wrapped around the desk.

There are so many ways to make holders for the desk that it's simply up to your own imagination. Empty plastic spice jars can hold markers, a tea bag box can hold dry erase supplies, an empty chocolate milk powder box can hold crayons, and a spaghetti box can hold ruler, pipe cleaners or other art supplies. Even empty bathroom tissue rolls, or paper towel rolls, can be used to hold supplies. Just tape or glue a cardboard disc to the bottom, then tape to the desk.