Looking for a gift that’s fun, creative, and educational all rolled into one? Makedo is a series of safe cardboard construction tools purposely designed for kids to imagine and build the world they want to see. This toolkit takes something as simple as a cardboard box and turns it into endless hours of hands-on projects and imaginative play. This is screen-free and real life fun.
Kids can build anything they dream up — whether it's a car, a castle, or a whole make-believe world. We'd heard families and educators are finding Makedo to be a real gem for sparking creativity and teamwork in kids of all ages and abilities, so we wanted to give this STEAM product a try. Here is how three of our publishers used Makedo in their own unique ways:
Makedo provided kits to publishers for the purposes of this review.
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Makedo for Family Bonding and Teamwork
Amy Perez Velasco's Family Experience
Amy’s family loved the idea of upcycling ordinary cardboard into extraordinary creations. Each child found a unique role: Her oldest designed a four-seater car, her middle child crafted a sword and pizza, and her toddler joyfully joined in with the Makedo Safesaw and "scrus" (What Makedo calls their innovative screws used to hold multiple pieces of cardboard together).
My favorite part about Makedo is that MAKING the toy is just as important as PLAYING with it. — Amy Perez Velasco
Amy, the publisher of Macaroni KID Elberton, Ga., was impressed with how the Makedo tools worked for all three of her kids, ages 3, 8, and 11.
"My daughter took time to draw her plans out in a meticulous way compared to my sons, who stabbed, sliced, poked, and twisted their ideas into reality," Amy says. “It was fun to watch my kids work together, innovate, and solve problems during the building process. They each brought something unique to the project."
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Amy's daughter, excited after finishing the cardboard car she'd envisioned creating with Makedo tools.
Quotable: Reasons Amy loved Makedo
- Supports a can-do attitude: "Each kid said, 'Yes! I did it!' at some point, which is very important at their ages. It's nice to have a toy that lets children start with an idea and implement it in real life, using simple tools and recycled materials, and watch the final product appear through their hard work and dedication."
- Encourages critical thinking: "It was fun to watch my kids work together, innovate and solve problems during the building process. I could see their mental gears turning, and the imaginary light bulb appeared as the 'a-ha moment' occurred. That's priceless."
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Sensory-Friendly and Inclusive Play
Rachel Benion’s Family Experience
Rachel and her four kids found Makedo to be an ideal tool for sensory-friendly, open-ended play. Without a fixed plan, her kids turned cardboard into castles, “battering rams,” and other creative structures. “It was less about having a grand plan and more about seeing what kind of cardboard chaos we could create,” Rachel says. Her youngest child created a castle, while her 5-year-old assembled a battering ram. The variation in cardboard creations shows how Makedo really fosters creativity and imagination in kids, while building fine and gross motor skills.
The Makedo kit made it so easy for the kids to turn their wild ideas into reality, and that’s what I love most about it — there’s no wrong way to build! — Rachel Benion
For Rachel’s 7-year-old, who has sensory needs, Makedo provided a rich, sensory-friendly experience filled with textures, sounds, and tactile activities. “These genius little tools allow kids with sensory needs to create, explore, and most importantly, do it their way,” says Rachel, the publisher of Macaroni KID Harrisburg & West Shore, Pa.
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Rachel's kids work together to craft a castle out of cardboard.
Quotable: Reasons Rachel loved Makedo
- Fosters independence: "At first, I thought I’d be heavily involved in the building process, but my kids surprised me. My 5-year-old could assemble and disassemble on his own like a pro, and even my 3-year-old was able to poke and twist the Makedo screws with minimal help. Sure, I was there to guide and offer suggestions (aka admire their masterpieces), but they really took charge. The independence was a win for all of us."
- Encourages creative thinking: "The Makedo kit fostered a mindset of experimentation and creative problem-solving, where nothing had to be perfect or look a certain way. Instead, it’s all about what else we can do with this seemingly simple material. My kids now approach every box with that same 'what can we make next?' attitude, and it’s honestly so much fun to watch."
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Families used Makedo tools to build cat toys and structures out of cardboard at an Erie, Pa., library event.
Makedo in Group Settings: Creativity and Collaboration
Kara Murphy’s Library Experience
At her local library’s “Cat-Tober Build & Play” event, Kara saw Makedo’s impact in group settings firsthand. Families used Makedo tools and upcycled cardboard to craft cat-themed toys, tunnels, and trees for a local shelter's adoptable cats. Kara, the publisher of Macaroni KID Erie, Pa., said both she and the librarian leading the event were impressed with how Makedo fosters process-based creativity, allowing kids of all ages to enjoy seeing what imaginative creations they could create without focusing on a "perfect" outcome.
Creating with Makedo is about the process rather than a finished product. Though those all really turned out very cool too, and each one was completely different! — Kara Murphy
Participants at the library event ranged from toddlers with parents to teens working independently. In all cases, Makedo promoted teamwork and interaction, Kara says. Parents guided younger children, while older kids took on leadership roles. The library, impressed with the Makedo tool set durability, is already planning ways to use the tools for future workshops.
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Quotable: Reasons Kara loved Makedo
- Engages all ages: "I was impressed with how much concentration and pride kids were putting into their projects. All the kids seemed really engaged with the process of transforming their cardboard into whatever they could imagine."
- Long-lasting design: "The librarian told me they already have some Makedo tools in their collection and they love them because they are reusable, high quality and are perfect for high-use settings like libraries and classrooms."
Discovering, problem-solving, and creating
With Makedo, kids aren’t just building—they’re discovering, problem-solving, and letting their imaginations run wild! Whether you're a parent hunting for a fresh family activity or an educator looking for something that gets kids truly engaged, Makedo has you covered. Makedo tools grow right alongside your kids’ curiosity and creativity, keeping up with every new idea they dream up. Looking for that perfect, inspiring gift to light up young minds this holiday season? We found Makedo might just be the one you didn’t know you needed!
