Preschool replaces toys with cardboard: Awesome happens

November 21, 2012 by Steve Davee

As we’ve mentioned in a previous post, The Wonders of Cardboard & Caine’s Arcade Global Cardboard Challenge! we at Maker Ed are very fond of cardboard. From Arlington, Ohio comes this wonderful story of preschool teacher Pete Kaser who,  inspired by his students,  removed all of the toys and standard classroom materials in his classroom and replaced them with carboard and other recycled scrap materials.

Makers, and anyone whose childhood memories include the magic and infinite possibilities of building with cardboard, will relate to the joy and creativity that ensued.

Also intriguing about this piece are the observations of the immediate social-emotional benefits.  It’s about more than the incredible benefits of play, it’s a story of empowerment and social development. It’s pretty simple, really. When kids play and make things, when they are put in charge of what they build and make, wonderful things happen: personalities, relationships and abilities are forged.  I never get tired of seeing it.

Here’s to cardboard and creative freedom,  and kudos to Kaser, who gave these lucky preschoolers such a gift!

Update 11/28/12-  As commentators have noted, the video is in Flash, so iOS and many other mobile users will not be able to view it on those devices. We are keeping an eye out for a non- flash version of the video to embed. So far, none exist yet.