At Remuera Kindergarten we believe that children learn through their play all the basic concepts they will need to develop into responsible adults with the ability to analyse their world and contribute to it. Building houses out of cardboard requires no costly materials, just a nearby appliance store, some strong tape, some paint, and an adult to do the serious cutting of windows and doors. We brought these cardboard boxes from a furniture dealer on Great South Road and gave them to the children to design as they liked. They choose from amoung the pile, then helped us cut the heavy packing tape we together used to put the boxes back into shape. They drew in the doors and windows and the teachers cut them out with a box cutter. Then the children painted them on the outside and decorated them on the inside. They had to take turns and share their paints, as well as cooperate in their design decisions. Each usually also made a little space that was all their own and didn’t squeeze anyone else out. Soon enough, some of the children went flatting together in these new homes, pretending to be mums and dads and big and little siblings, and acting out social scenarios.