Wrap it up!

Have fun pretending to wrap presents! Use some recycled boxes of different sizes, and newspaper or old wrapping paper. You can talk about words like ‘fold’, ‘cover’ and ‘surface’. Then have fun unwrapping them and starting all over again! This activity helps build numeracy skills like measurement (area) and shapes. Talking about what you’re doing will also help with literacy skills.

What do I need?

• Recycled boxes of different sizes
• Newspaper or old wrapping paper
• Scissors
• Sticky tape.

How do I do it?

1. Choose a cardboard box together. Talk about the different shapes and sizes.
2. Lay out your wrapping paper, and place the box on top. Cut your paper to the right size.
3. Pull all sides of the wrapping paper together to cover the box, and tape them into place. Talk about words like ‘fold’, ‘cover’ and ‘surface’. Let your child take the lead, remember, this is about having fun, not getting it perfect.
4. Extra fun: Add ribbons to your wrapped presents, or decorate your own special wrapping paper by drawing, painting or adding stamps.

No-one knows your child better than you. So, choose and/or adapt ideas here to best suit you and your child. Remember it’s the talking and time spent together that matters most.