The best toys in the world are those that stimulate your child's imagination, can keep your kid engaged for hours, and are eco-friendly. It's rare to find all three in one - but Calafant cardboard toys truly fit the bill. These clever cardboard designs can be decorated however your child likes and unfolded to reveal a cool play set.

For instance, that totally cool treehouse is big enough for finger puppets or dollhouse figures to live inside. Same goes for the other structures Calafant makes, from a royal castle to this cute farm (complete with a stable). And they're all surprisingly affordable; most of the structures cost around $25.

Calafant also makes cardboard vehicles - trains, plans and automobiles. Of course, these don't have moving wheels, but they're fun for make-believe play. And when your child outgrows their cardboard structures, you're not left with a big pile of plastic. You can simply recycle them!


a la mode (sweet tip on the side)
Of course, you can also simplify things by making great structures and vehicles out of giant boxes at home. If you get a new appliance or piece of furniture, don't throw away that box! Challenge your kids to turn it into a boat, a truck or a castle! Or give that box nine lives. You can use a product like Rust-Oleum's Chalkboard Spray to paint the box black so your kids can make designs on it with chalk, then erase and start all over!
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