When your child loves toy cars and trucks they may wish for one of those fancy, expensive toy parking garages. However, I'm here today to present proof that you don't need to lay out any money for fancy toys! Instead, all you need is one of these four simple DIY toy parking garage ideas.
Not only are homemade toy garages easier to make than you ever imagined, your child will not even notice that they aren't fancy. That's because kids posses imagination, and sometimes parents need a reminder that ugly kids activities are the most awesome.
Plus, if your child wants to add bells and whistles to the garage designs, they can put their own creative skills to work to add any embellishments they wish.
But let's start with the basics, shall we?
DON'T FORGET: 20 Ways to Play with Toy Cars
DIY Parking Garage Number One
This garage is the one that looks most like an actual, multi-leveled parking garage. And that's not really saying much, but my son loved it.
What you need:
A medium to large cardboard box
Duct tape
Scissors or box cutter
Instructions
Use the scissors to remove the top flaps of the box. Turn the box on its end so that it sits on the shorter sides (i.e. so that it's at it's maximum height). Use the duct tape to secure the two short flaps to the inside of the box as shelves. These will become the floors for two garage levels.
That's it! Now, if your child is driving their toys cars into the parking garage and wish there was a ramp, ask them how they would make one. I bet they have a great answer. If not, try our easy way to make a toy car ramp.
But remember, Barbie's dream house doesn't have stairs, so does a parking garage really need a ramp?
DIY Parking Garage Number Two
This parking garage hardly needs any instructions. Take a cardboard box. Open it. Lay it on it's side.
Voilá.
And hey, you could always reuse the box for this activity that gets siblings to work together. In the corner of the photo you might notice a bit of our diy road for toy cars!
DIY Parking Garage Number Three
Okay, people. Get ready. This might be my son's favorite parking garage of the moment.
Are you ready? First, go to the fridge. Take out a carton of eggs. Put the eggs in a bowl and stick them back in the fridge.
Put the egg carton on the floor. Fill it will toy cars. Instant parking spots.
Kids will always out-imagine grown-ups.
DON'T FORGET: Reuse the egg carton for pom pom counting and sorting
DIY Parking Garage Number Four
Our final diy parking garage idea of the moment will protect those precious toy vehicles from the elements. My son requisitioned our tabletop indoor greenhouse as a parking spot for his toy buses and trains. That's what I get for taking to long too fill it with plants. Although we did eventually use it as a good spot to regrow vegetables from scraps.
And just for fun, grab a clear plastic tube. It makes a great diy parking garage accessory.
So there you have it, four different easy ways to make a parking garage for your child. Which one will you choose?
Idea first published 2011, updated 2023.
MaryAnne says
And I bet this version gets played with at least as much as the fancy ones =)
MamaTea says
Perfectly wonderful. And I agree with MaryAnne. 🙂
Mandy says
excellent! must show this to hunter.
Susie says
visiting from No Time for Flashcards (again!). Love your car ideas, my little boy LOVES cars etc too.
This is probably a dumb question, but have you visited the New York Transit Museum? I haven't been there, but my brother loves it.
Erica says
Susie: We LOVE the NY Transit Museum!
Birute Efe says
your post is awesome. You made so many mothers feel better (including me). I will try not to beat myself up because our craft didn't come out 'pinterest ready'.
Angela Lemos says
I think you will love my Youtube page. It is called A Fábrica de Brinquedos da Vovó. The idea is exactly make 10 minutes toys without spending money and having fun