The best building blocks are made of strong durable plastic. Milk crates can be used to create a child’s fantasy play land if you can locate enough of them. They can be purchased from farmers perhaps or you can find them at flea markets. Having nearly 100 of them can spark the imagination even in us adults.

Here is another great idea for the use of milk crates!

Why not have fun making and then running an obstacle course. With two or more children, you can time each other to see who is the fastest!!

You can build towers to run between or run in and out of. My children created walls that made them have to stop and find a pass through and steps that they had to climb and then jump from. Make stepping stones or tunnels by tying a few crates together tightly with rope to keep them from falling down on their heads. Just use your imagination and keep safety in mind always!

A Word of Warning!!! 

Do not pick them up at your local grocery store unless you have the manager’s permission and the permission of the owner’s of the crates (Don’t learn the hard way as it will be considered theft). Please remember too that these are not sturdy for walking on the ground more than two crates tall (maximum weight at about 100 lbs, but an adult should test them) and you should have a good soft surface because accidents will happen (we have used sand). This needs to be a supervised activity and younger children should be monitored at all times. Another few rules are:

• Always use caution.

• Do not allow any running at any time on the crates.

• Crates should be placed on a flat safe surface.

• Do not place crates in unsafe positions. They are heavy.

• Do not place heavy items on top of crates. Cardboard, tarps, and sheets can be used.

These are milk crates remember and are not actual toys, so reader and builder beware!

We hope this idea sparks the imagination in each and every one of you. Perhaps this might also spur the imagination of those famous Big plastic toy Companies to create some giant, lightweight but sturdy, stacking crates from Little Tikes, Step 2, or Fisher Price. I certainly would like to see something affordable that my kids could create countless playground set-ups or castles with their imagination.