To help parents and kids get creative this festive season, AnyVan has turned a hand to toy making by creating a series of unique ‘box toys’ that can be easily built using leftover moving boxes.

The cardboard designs, which include a car, a plane and a boat, were created after research by the removal and delivery company revealed 75% of survey participants said they’re personally concerned about finances in regards to the current cost-of-living crisis, and 34% stated they are planning to give less toys this year in comparison to last year.

When AnyVan asked why the nation plans to gift less, top answers included; not having as much spare money this year (47%), having to prioritise other necessary items needed more (31%), and kids rarely using toys before disregarding them. With gifting being a concern as we move into the festive season, there’s never been a better time to find cost-effective toys that can bring hours of amusement and joy for little ones.

With 5,550 moves booked in December last year, and 7,400 predicted for December this year, AnyVan expects to see many families packing up and making their move in the weeks leading up to Christmas. With this in mind, parents should consider avoiding an overstretch on purchasing new toys for Christmas, as kids often love the box more than the gift itself. In fact, 20% of those surveyed said their kids are more likely to play with the packaging of a gift, rather than what’s inside. Saving money and waste, these ‘box toys’ provide the perfect opportunity for kids to use their imagination and enter a world of creativity, exploring new ways to have fun with items already in the house.

Interestingly, 45% of kids stop playing with new toys within the first two weeks of receiving them, with 16% disregarding them within the first 2-3 days. These unique packing boxes can not only help combat the holiday boredom, but can also help cut down on waste, which is a big focus for AnyVan and builds upon the company’s existing environmental commitment to balancing all CO2 emissions from its vehicles.

Angus Elphinstone, CEO and Founder at AnyVan, says: “We know that moving can be a stressful experience for many, with kids at home during the school holidays adding further pressure for parents. We created Box Toys as a fun and interactive way to entertain kids this festive season, helping engage creative minds and providing a great opportunity for parent-child bonding. With the continuing cost of living crisis providing a point of concern for much of the nation, especially in the lead up to Christmas, we wanted to provide a simple yet effective solution for families.”

Giving parents and kids alike the opportunity to get creative, these box toys are a template for decoration. Why not start a holiday arts and crafts project or competition, challenging kids to use items around the house such as bright paints, stickers and glitter to create their own unique cardboard toy vehicles.