Cardboard toys & pop-out playsets
49 products3 brands
Cardboard toys and pop-out playsets from Playpress, including castles, pirate islands, farms, vets and space stations, plus The Gruffalo.Cardboard toys and pop-out playsets from Playpress, including castles, pirate islands, farms, vets and space stations, plus The Gruffalo. These imaginative play toys arrive flat, press out and slot together, then pack away again after play.
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Choosing cardboard toys
Playsets in card are light, quick to build and easy to recycle at the end of their life. They also take up little space when packed away, which helps in small homes. Pick a playset around a theme your child already loves, as that is what keeps them coming back to it. Playpress Toys makes almost every set here, from FSC-certified Playboard printed with vegetable-based inks and assembled with water-based glue. We checked Playpress for how and where its toys are made.
Cardboard playsets to build
Playpress cardboard playsets include a Knights Castle, a Legends Castle, Pirate Island, a Farmyard, Stonehenge, Tower Bridge, a Space Station and a Space Ranger set. There are role-play sets too, such as the Book Shop, Sweet Shop, Hospital, Mini Vets and Talent Show, which encourage children to take turns and tell stories together. Animal sets include Savannah Animals and Australian Animals, and the RNLI sets include a lifeboat house and people.
Story and museum sets
Playpress makes The Gruffalo playset and mini set, The Very Hungry Caterpillar garden and a Moomins house. With the Natural History Museum, it makes a Dino Dig playset and a Mini Museum. These eco toys suit a rainy afternoon. Playsets with small figures work well for storytelling, so children can act out a scene, take it down and build a new one, which keeps the same set interesting for longer.
Building and caring for cardboard toys
Most playsets press out and slot together, so younger children may need a hand the first time. Keep the sets dry, and store them flat in their box between play sessions. When a set is worn out, pop it in the paper recycling. Mix sets together, such as the farm with the vets, to build a bigger world as your child's collection grows. Cardboard toys make easy Christmas stocking fillers and birthday presents, as they arrive flat. Feeding & Weaning has weaning sets, Baby & Kids Bath has bath time products, Books & Magazines has books and zines, and Eco-friendly activities for kids that are actually fun has more ideas for play.
Common questions
What age are cardboard playsets for?
Check each listing for its age guidance, as some sets include small pieces. Younger children may need an adult to help build.
Do you need tools to build them?
No. Playpress sets press out and slot together by hand, so you can build them straight from the box.
Can you recycle cardboard toys?
Yes. When a set is worn out, put it in your paper and card recycling.
How do you store pop-out playsets?
Take them apart and store them flat in their box, somewhere dry. Keep them away from damp, which softens the board.
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