Forget expensive toys...cardboard boxes provide hours of fun

I love Play School on the ABC. I am constantly amazed by what they can make with a cardboard box and some masking tape. Brendon borrowed a toy shopping trolley from the local Toy Library, and I was inspired to make a cash register after seeing one made on Play School recently. I used a large Rice Bubbles box, a Special K box, a toilet roll, some paint, and masking tape of course.
The Rice Bubbles box I cut and reassembled to make the cash register, while the Special K box I cut up to make the cash drawer. I taped the toilet roll to the top of it to make the receipt roll (I even attached a receipt from the local supermarket). I painted it, then made up the display and keypad using scrap paper and a texta.
Now, this probably won't last as long as a shop bought one, but I am amazed by how much Brendon has played with it already. Yesterday we played shops for a good part of the afternoon. We put toys in the trolley (pretending they were groceries) and took them to the checkout. I wrapped a small box in wrapping paper and attached it with string to the cash register to make a scanner. I showed Brendon how to scan items then press the total button.
Today, his cars haven't even had a look-in...all he has wanted to play with are his cash register and some empty cardboard boxes that he put together to make a "train".