Let's get crafty with cardboard and paint : 25 creative and fun projects for kids aged 2 and up

25 easy-to-achieve cardboard crafts for parents to make at home with children aged 2 and over. These fun, colourful crafts are designed to bring out a young child's creative side.

The inventive ideas include a super space rocket, colourful rainstick and cardboard castle.

The emphasis is on teamwork, with adults helping with the tricky steps, such as cutting out, and the young children doing the fun and messy parts, such as gluing, painting and decorating.

As well as being enjoyable, these cardboard crafts will help to prepare children for school by developing their fine motor skills and encouraging them to concentrate on a task and complete it.

The creative ideas will spark a child's imagination and for both parent and child there will be great rewards in finishing a project.

Best of all, getting crafty means enjoying some fun - and messy - time together!