If you have a couple of large cardboard boxes lying around, don’t recycle them just yet! This cardboard apple picking tree has been such a fun, low-cost activity in our house, and I love that it’s just as exciting for my 2-year-old as it is for my 7-year-old.
The best part? You only need a few simple supplies, and you can make it as simple or as detailed as you’d like.
What You’ll Need
- Two large, flat pieces of cardboard
- Green paint
- Brown paint (optional)
- Paint Brushes
- Scissors or a craft knife
- Sticky-back Velcro dots
- Red ball pit balls to use as “apples”
How to Make It
Start by cutting one piece of cardboard into the shape of a tree trunk with branches. You can leave it as plain cardboard, but I like to use brown paint and add a little texture to make it look like bark.
Using the second piece of cardboard, cut out the leafy top of the tree. Paint it green and let it dry completely.
Once both pieces are dry, attach them together and add Velcro dots throughout the leafy section. Stick the matching Velcro dots onto your red ball pit balls so you can attach to the tree like apples and then they can “pick” them.
That’s it! Your apple tree is ready for picking.
Why We Love It
This activity has been a hit with both of my kids, even though they’re five years apart!
For my 2-year-old, it’s perfect for:
- Practicing fine motor skills by pulling the apples on and off.
- Building hand-eye coordination.
- Learning colors and counting.
- Pretend play without needing a lot of direction.
For my 7-year-old, it turns into a completely different kind of play:
- Creating apple-picking games and challenges.
- Counting, sorting, and making up rules.
- Helping their younger sibling and taking on the role of “farmer.”
- Using their imagination to turn it into an orchard, farm stand, or harvest festival.
I always love activities that can grow with my kids instead of only entertaining one age group, and this one definitely does that.
Plus, it’s made from cardboard that would have ended up in the recycling bin anyway, so it’s an easy way to turn everyday materials into something they’ll come back to again and again.
Sometimes the simplest activities end up being the ones they remember the most.
