Kids in a box

Today I received a package in the mail - a purchase for the house that I made last week online. Anyway, the items were shipped in a large box, and this box quickly became the kiddos' favorite toy tonight. The game they played was Amelia's idea (of course), and was called "John in the box." Amelia helped John crouch down inside the box to hide inside (he barely fit), while she went around back and shouted "wind!" (as in to wind up the jack in the box). Once Amelia said this, John was to jump up and pretend he was a jack in the box.

Here is a pictorial sequence of events. First, pack up John...

Next, the shout of "WIND!" and John jumps up!



Next it's Amelia's turn to be the kid in the box!

How funny! I know that tonight's game should not have surprised me, as I have long understood the amusement power of boxes to children. This is not the first time the kids have had fun playing in a large box. But what was amazing to me tonight was that no matter how many times we get large boxes, and no matter how old the kiddos get, the empty cardboard box is still the king of toys.

And tonight the empty box was good enough to use as a cozy resting place for John to watch his before-bed show. Notice that Amelia is lounging on a comfortable beanbag, and there is a full couch to the left and a child's chair on the right (both empty), but still John selected the box. Because after all, the box is king.