Cardboard toys are timeless. So timeless that no matter how many tech advances are made in this particular industry or how fancy big box stores become with their own lines, people will still be coming up with creative cardboard toys for children to play with. After all, they're cheap, they're eco-friendly and they're pretty educational.
Through a variety of cardboard toys -- from simple to more complex -- children are encouraged to exercise their creativity and imagination on a very active level. They also learn more about the physical world around them whether that's through the idea of environmentally friendly products or simply interacting with such objects in real spaces. Either way, cardboard toys serve many purposes that children benefit from.
15 Creative Cardboard Toys

15
Color Pencil Packaging
Julia Karwasz Designs a Reusable Cardboard Case for Art Tools

14
DIY Cardboard Toys
MacoshDesign Created Downloadable Templates to Make Eco-Friendly Toys

13
DIY Yoyo Kits
The Modernized Sling-Slang Yoyo is a Fun Homemade Project
12
Playful Geometric Domes
This DIY Cardboard Playhouse Provides Inexpensive Playtime for Children
11
DIY Mechanical Playthings
The Strawbees Toy Kit Targets Aspiring Architects and Engineers
10
DIY Arctic Cardboard Playsets
Mr. Printables' Templates Make Cute Recycled Cardboard Toys
9
Cardboard Building Block Branding
The Packaging for GIGI Bloks is Made from Sustainable Materials
8
Cardboard Spaceship Kits
The Makedo Space Pod Launch Kit Provides Interactive and Imaginative Play
7
Cardboard Zoo Playsets
The Mini Jungle Cardboard Toy Set Provides an Instant Zoo
6
DIY Planetarium Papercrafts
This Science Paper Craft Projects the Night Sky onto Interior Walls
5
Pop-Up Notebook Dollhouses
Rock & Pebble's Pop-Up Book is a Customizable Dollhouse
4
Whimsical Cardboard Forts
Kinfolk Magazine Had Kids Dream Up the Ultimate Cardboard Playhouse
3
DIY Drawing Robots
Makers Toolbox Teaches Kids to Create a Functional 'Scribbler Robot'
2
Papercraft Pinball Machines
The Pinbox 3000 Kit Makes a Handmade Version of the Retro Arcade Game
1
Metropolitan Cardboard Puzzles
This Retro Puzzle Toy Celebrates The Spirit of London
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AI-Powered Toy Attachments
The App-Paired ToyPal One Brings Soft Toys to Life for Screen-Free Fun
Kid-Friendly 3D Printers
The Kidoodle MiniBox A1 Bolsters Creativity & STEM Learning
LNY-Inspired Toys
LEGO's Lunar New Year Collection Offers Celebration and Creativity
Sustainable Lightweight Cat Toys
A Team of Designers Create the Pet-Friendly Cat Box
E-Waste Portable Game Systems
The Steam Deck Motherboard Case Concept is Screen-Free
Anniversary-Celebrating Toy Collections
The LEGO® Group & Hasbro Unveil LEGO DUPLO® PEPPA PIG Sets
Pump-Up Plush Toys
Little Biggies' Patented Pump Packaging Provides a Unique Unboxing Experience
Family Board Game Promos
Hasbro and Birds Eye Teamed Up to Encourage Family Bonding
Playful Cosmic Displays
The LEGO Group's Unidentified Playing Objects Speak to Curious Gen Alpha
Doll-Inspired Movie Launches
Mattel Plans to Release More Movies Following 'Barbie's' Success
Lego-Centric Apps
The 'Brick My World' App Turns Reality into LEGO Creations
Kid-Powered Imagination Campaigns
Lunchables' A.I. vs K.I. Proves Kids' Limitless Creativity
Multipurpose Children's Pillows
Kid Cubes are the Playful Pillows Every Child Will Love
Imaginative Soft Toys
Blabla's Little Monster Soft Toys Promote Listening, Curiosity and Dreams
Educational Climate Change Toys
The 'Habitat' Educational Toy Brick Sets Come in Two Options
TV Packaging Seating Solutions
The 'Cuna' Furniture by Valeria Coello is Made Out of Cardboard
Treat-Themed Crafting Dolls
Far Out Toys' Pretty Sweets Invites Kids to Customize Mini Desserts
Personalized AI Coloring Pages
Happy Pages AI Lets Parents Create Coloring Pages for their Kids
Novel AI-Generated Product Designs
Arcade Introduced a Transformative AI Product Creation Platform
Innovative Toy Creations
Fun In Motion Toys Launches TECTI, a Kinetic Building System Toy
Interactive Early Education Toys
Tokidos PlayCubes Have a Screen-Free Design
GenAI Storybook Illustrators
Storybooks Turns Kids' Beloved Toys into Main Characters
Futuristic Imaginative Design Concepts
Toyota Introduces the Unique E-Collection of Products
Cardboard-Inspired Breathable Sneakers
adidas Introduces the Samba Cardboard Sneaker Model
Kid-Envisioned Urban Environments
The Little Big Playmat Takes a Creative Path to Design Problems
Kids' Interactive Sensory Toys
Storypods Debuts Interactive and Multisensory Toys
Air-Powered Racer Toys
The Air-Power Turbo Racer Travels Up to 30 Feet at 13 Feet Per Second
Interactive Screen-Free Games
Spin & Play® Encourages Physical Activity and Cognitive Development
Crowdfunded Circular Childrens Toys
Tiny Earth Toys is Launching a Kickstarter for 'Tiny Spaces'
Nostalgic LEGO Roller Skates
The LEGO® Creator 3-in-1 Girls Retro Roller Skate is Playful
Family-Friendly Interactive Museums
LEGO's Superpower Studios is Devoted to Hands-On Play
Screen-Free Music Toys
Loops Lab Lowers the Barrier of Entry to Music Creation
Multifunctional Magnetic Folding Tables
The 'FoldPlay' Folding Table Works Anywhere in the House
Multisensory Toy Boxes
The Janod Boxes Stimulate Sight, Touch, Hearing and More
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Transformative AI Art
Transform Kids' Drawings into Colorful Animated Artworks with Drawings Alive
Child-Friendly Camera Concepts
The Camera for Kids Concept Reimagines the Digital Camera
Cardboard-Resembling Illusion Cakes
Wholegreen Bakery Cooks up the Cardboard Cake
Origami-Inspired Lit Table Concepts
Sonakshi Gupta Designs the Dynamic LightUP Concept
Repurposed Pasta Boxes
Barilla & Marie Kondo are Sharing How to Reuse Packaging
Anthropomorphized Gaming Systems
The 'Playdate' Handheld Gaming Device Has a Charming Function
Compost-Turned Paint Toolkits
A Team at Virginia Tech Developed the Sustainable Painting Art Kit
Playful AI Tools
Morrama Releases Concept Collection of AI Tools for Children's Mental Health
Modeling Dough Fashion Dolls
Hasbro and Mattel Created the Play-Doh Barbie Collection
Creativity-Inspiring Kids Campaigns
Cra-Z-Art Inspires Young Creative Beauty-Focused Campagn
Interactive Educational Toy Lines
LeapFrog Debuts Its Latest Collection at Toy Fair 2025
Sustainability-Oriented Kids Toys
Learning Resources Unveils a New Sustainable Toy Capsule
Upcycled Circular Design Products
Cyrc Designs Expansive Products with Sustainable Themes
Easy Drawing Inspiration
Simple Drawing Ideas Offers Creative Prompts For All Skill Levels
Sensory Dough Toys
Play-Doh 6 Variety Compounds are Uniquely Textured & Scented
Bamboo-Based Dome Pavilions
Shigeru Ban Used Cardboard Tubes to Create the Blue Ocean Dome
Multi-Sensory Play Experiences
Plush Toy 'MediTATE' Promotes Kids' Mindfulness
Gen Alpha Creativity Workshops
The LEGO Group Launched Free Creativity Workshops for Ages 6-12
Programming Code-Powered Toy Cars
The 'Zerone 2' Teaches Kids Programming Basics in a Fun Way
Food-Based Toy Block Alternatives
LEGO Replaces its Plastic Bricks with a Eco-Friendly Options
Wood-Crafted Eco-Friendly Crayons
Playfool Designed the Forest Crayon Made From Real Wood
Tape Crafting Kits
Curious Universe's Nano Tape Magic Kits Create Fun Crafts for Kids
Kid-Friendly Tech Frames
myFirst Recently Unveiled Two New Digital Frames
Award-Winning Magnetic Building Sets
MAGNA-TILES® Affirms Itself as a Leader in Educational Toys
Buildable Paper Playsets
Playper's Curious Kingdom: Castle Playset Encourages Creativity
Book-Themed Collectibles
Booksy's Tiny Books & Figures Inspire a Love of Reading in Kids
Holiday-Ready Toy Product Lilnes
Crayola Has Unveiled Its 2025 Holiday Product Lineup
Mindful Advent Calendars
The PLAYin CHOC Advent Calendars Have Low-Sugar Chocolate and More
Feline Adventure Board Games
Adventures in Friskies World Includes a Special Toy to Entertain Cats
Versatile Digital Gift Cards
On Me Cards Provide Numerous Retail Options for Every Hobby and Gift
Kid-Inspired Learning Programs
Staples Has Announced the Expansion of Staples Kids Learn + Play
Brick Builder Community Apps
The LEGO Play App Provides a Kid-Safe Space for Builders of All Ages
Dream-Centric Toy Guides
The LEGO Group Calls Attention to Its Dream Crafting Concept
Child-Forward Travel Planning Kits
Trip Jones Offers Kid-Friendly Travel Planning
Crystal Floral Arrangement Kits
Cra-Z-Art's DIY Crystal Floral Kits Double as Decor for All Ages
Colorful Kid's Toy Lines
Battat and Walmart Introduce a Line of Preschool and Pretend Play Toys
Paper-Made Dissolvable E-Waste
Franziska Kerber Designs a New Source of Sustainable Electronic
Cube Toy-Inspired Projectors
TCL's Playcube Projector is Designed Inspired by the Rubik's Cube
Personalized AI Stories
Magic Bookshelf Places Your Child at the Center of Personalized Adventures
Multifunctional Game Sets
The 'LEGO' Group is Merging Physical and Digital Play
Discarded Toys-Created Homes
Wallmakers Designs the Toy Storey Home with Repurposed Toys
Emotional Well-Being Dolls
Kid Kreations' Heartfuls Support Self-Belief and Resilience in Children
Kid-Friendly Digital Coloring
PalettePlay.art Has Customizable Coloring Book Templates
Customizable Kids Wall Art
DoodleFace Reinvents Wall Art with Developmentally-Friendly Designs
Cocoa Bean-Based Display Units
Mars Wrigley is Trialing a Second 'Cocoa Cardboard' Bean Display
Kid Entrepreneur Carts
Allboss is a Creative Approach to Entrepreneurship for Children
Vending Machine Toys
Melissa & Doug's Wooden Vending Machine Play Set is Screen-Free
Branded Creativity-Focused Workshops
The LEGO Group Unveils Its 2025 Creativity Workshop Series
Recycled Cardboard Toilet Papers
These Tesco Paper Products are for the Kitchen and Bathroom
Cat-Friendly Conceptual Playful Furniture
Yamaha Presents the Neko-Yama and Other Designs
Confidence-Promoting Conversation Cards
TableTalk is a Card Deck of Mealtime Conversations
Gamified Children's Care Products
DEEEZ Developed Interactive Games for the BabyFirst Brand
Sustainable Seasonal Chocolate Treats
PLAYin CHOC Christmas ToyChoc Boxes are Eco-Friendly
Feline-Friendly Music Accessories
Yamaha Design Lab Creates a Special Cat Music Box
Celebratory Puzzle Toys
The 50th Anniversary Rubik's Cube Commemorates Five Decades of Play
Mess-Free Eco Craft Kits
Brainstorm's Create N Colour Let Kids Magically Paint with Water
Kid-Friendly Kitchen Stations
Studio Eggi Revolutionizes Kids’ Playrooms with Thoughtful Design
Digital Business Card Platforms
Digital Business Card Claims to Offer an Eco-Friendly Approach
Convenient Online Greeting Cards
Happy Tree Cards Makes Online Cards a More Collaborative Process
Playtime-Encouraging Toy Capsules
Oreo Unveils the Art of Play Toys in Black and White
Biodegradable Play Mats
Play It Safe Introduces Its Engaging and Eco-Friendly Disposable Play Mat
Nature-Inspired Playdate Card Games
The Spilled Mushrooms Card Game is a Puzzle Game
Long-Haul Flight Toys
Turkish Airlines Created My Travel Buddy for Young Travelers
Kindergarten-Focused Hands-On Learning Solutions
LEGO® Education Science Enhances Learning
3D-Printable Toy Ranges
MakerWorld 'CyberBrick' Has Reusable Electronics and 3D-Printed Models
Creative Kid's Drawings
Joyful Outlines Inspires Creativity in Kids with Fun, Educational Themes
Block Puzzle Modular Dollhouses
Gavin Portillo and Mario Ledo Create a Dollhouse Concept
Children's Wearable Blankets
Super Blanky Encourages Adventure and Positivity
Interactive Toy Experiences
ToyPal Brings Soft Toys to Life with Personalized, AI-Powered Stories
Kid-Friendly Portable Projectors
Little Tikes' Story Dream Machine Supports Early Literacy
Origami-Inspired Porcelain Art
Saori Matsushita Creates a New Range of Porcelain Pieces
Developmental Bath Toys
The Your (Un)Ordinary Bath Toy Collection Encourages Sensory Exploration
Children-Friendly Jiu-Jitsu Academies
Kidz Designs a Jiu-Jitsu Gym Around a Wooden Amplitheater
Cardboard-Inspired Ceramic Household Art
Jacques Monneraud Designs the Cardboard Collection
Digital Brainstorming Tools
Card Buddy Serves as an Online Space to Visualize Ideas and Thoughts
AI Kid's Coloring Tools
ColorCraft AI Offers Educational and Engaging Art for Kids
Customizable Pen Kits
Clementoni's Pen Creator Studio Helps Kids Create Their Own Pens
Travel-Ready Racing Toys
Compact Flat 2 Fast Card Racers Launch from Flat
Quirky eCard Platforms
Happiepages Has an Online Celebratory Card for Any Occassion
Witty Plushie Toys
Punchkins are 'Punny' Collectibles with 3D Details
Child-Friendly AI Doodles
Dodoboo Uses AI to Turn a Child's Doodles into Art
Personalized Story Creators
TinkerTell Offers AI-Crafted Stories That Make Every Child the Hero
AI Design Platforms
Playground Creates Professional Designs with AI-Driven Templates
Engaging 3D Games
The FOROS Game Brings Timeless Fun with a Modern Twist
Gamified Children's Productivity Apps
Kangaroutine Helps Kids Who Struggle with Routines
AI-Powered Drawing game
Doodle Play Tasks Players to Use Strategy and Imagination
Toy Brick Organizing Platforms
Brickd Helps LEGO Fans Organize Collections, Share, and Connect
Personalized Toddler Tales
The Spark Book Creates Custom Stories with Your Toddler as the Hero
Kid-Friendly Power Tools
The 'SUPCUTTER' is an Easy-to-Use Material-Cutting Powertool
Daily Affirmation-Focused Cards
Joyful Hearts Co. Delivers Self-Confidence with Affirmation Cards
Personalized AI Storytelling Apps
Story Creator AI Takes Aspects From a Child's Personality
Craft Starter Kits
Noah Makes It Easy to Begin a New Hobby
AI Birthday Party Invites
Teddy Party Helps Parents Send Invites to Their Kid's Birthday
Introductory Connected Device Kits
Arduino's Plug and Make Kit Supports Beginner-Level Projects
Light-Powered Racing Toys
Light’n Race Uses and Teaches Fundamental Physics Principles
Skill-Building Play Kitchens
The Real Life Play Kitchen by Lovevery Safely Sharpens Motor Skills
Beginner Artistic Inspiration
Drawing Prompts Helps Artists Develop a Consistent Practice
Play-Encouraging Intational Holidays
The UN Officially Marks the Inaugural Day of Play
Cognitive Play Platforms
Toddlr Offers Educational Games for Kids with Balanced Screen Time
Air Balloon-Inspired Lamp Concepts
Kubra Sen Imagines the Creative Air Balloon Lamp Design
Colorblind-Accessible Games
Mattel Commits to Creating Inclusive Play and Game Options
Engaging Language Flashcards
Karteto Makes Learning a New Language Fun Through Repetition
Imaginative Pared-Back Art Supplies
Woset Designs a Range of Stationary and Furniture for Kids
Urban Design Card Games
Open Urban Practice and ŞANALarc Create the City Making 101 Game
Digital Dartboard Game Systems
The 'Pixeldarts' Electronic Throwing Game Offers Nonstop Fun