Split the boxes with the fingers into pieces wide or narrow, as desired, and the slats thus made can be turned into fences for the play farm in the sand-box, or for borders for small flower beds. (1) Stick them into the sand or earth side by side, to suggest a plain board fence; or (2) Put very narrow ones at short intervals apart to suggest a picket fence.
Toy-Fences (Scissors, tacks)
If old enough to use scissors, let the child cut the boxes apart with long scissors and use for fences as before. (1) Side by side for board fence. (2) Cut into very narrow strips for picket fence. Use the rim of the basket for the rail to unite the pickets, fastening them with the tiny tacks which are already in it. Pickets might be one inch apart. Cutting the tops of the pickets into points will complete the resemblance to a real fence. Put the rails about one-half inch from top.
Boxes for tacks, seeds, etc. (Scissors, paste, paste-sticks, ribbon, 8½ inches long, 1½ inches wide, wall-paper, pan with water)
Take two pieces of a box, each measuring 2 × 5 inches. Soak in water till soft. Place one directly across the middle of the other, and bend the four projecting ends up perpendicularly into box form. (1) Hold the sides in place by winding the ribbon around the four sides, till they meet, and paste the one overlapping end over the other. (2) Cut a piece of wall-paper (obtainable often from a wall-hanger's shop) into a strip 1½ × 8½ inches and wind around, pasting one end over the other. If the child is inexperienced the paper may be cut of exactly the height of box. If skillful in so doing, let him cut the strip ½ inch wider and turn down over the top to give a little finish. This gives practice in neatness and skill.
Let the child observe how a Swedish matchbox is made—the wood held together by strips of thin but tough paper—and then carry his thought to the far-distant land which sends us the magic wands that give us light with safety. And all carried in a tiny box made of wood and paper. Decalcomanias might be used for decoration of the plain wooden box.
Let the child experiment in making boxes of different shapes and sizes for his collections of seeds, stones, etc. This cultivates his ingenuity and practical imagination.
Picture Frames (Scissors, thumb-tacks, gold paint, water-colors, glue)
Cut three slats, each 1 × 8 inches, to make triangular frame. Unite with thumb-tacks, one at each of the three corners. To place them exactly the right way may take a little experimenting, which helps develop the child's sense of proportion and arrangement. When joined, cut off the projecting parts at the top to give pointed effect. Good for pictures of Indians, as wigwam is suggested. Decorate by gilding or painting. Can be painted with Ivory paints or water-colors.
Chicken-Coops (Scissors, glue)