January in Minnesota means one thing: it's cold. Really cold. The kind of cold where the backyard might as well be the moon. And when kids are stuck inside, screens become the easy answer.
We get it. We're parents too. But we also know that the afternoons kids remember most aren't the ones spent watching videos — they're the ones where they made something, built something, or created something together.
Here are five screen-free activities you can do with a Cubles character — each one extends the building experience into hours of creative play.
1. Build Your Character
It all starts here. Give your kid a flat-packed Cubles character and let them pop, fold, and click it together. It takes about 10-15 minutes, requires zero tools, and the result is a poseable 3D character they built with their own hands. That sense of accomplishment is the spark for everything else on this list.
2. Create a Diorama
Once the character is built, the world-building begins. Grab a shoebox, some construction paper, markers, and whatever craft supplies you have around the house. Kids create a scene for their character — a Minecraft cave, Dog Man's city, a ninja hideout. The character becomes the star of a world they designed themselves. This is where imagination really takes off.
3. Build a Parachute
This one is pure STEAM magic. Give your kid a plastic bag (or tissue paper), some string, and tape. Challenge them to build a parachute for their Cubles character. Test it from the top of the stairs. Does it float? Does it spin? Redesign and try again. They're learning about air resistance and engineering without even realizing it — they just think they're playing.
4. Write a Story and Act It Out
Every great character needs an adventure. Have your kid write a short story starring their Cubles character. It doesn't have to be long — even a few sentences work. Then act it out. Use different voices. Build additional props from paper. If you have multiple characters, it becomes a full production. Some of the best stories we've heard from families started this way — a kid, a character, and "what if..."
5. Design a Challenge Course
Set up a mini obstacle course on the kitchen table using books, cups, rulers, and whatever you can find. The challenge: get your Cubles character from one end to the other. Kids create ramps, bridges, tunnels, and jumps. They test, redesign, and test again. It's engineering, problem-solving, and play all wrapped into one — and the competitive sibling version is even better.
The Common Thread
Notice what these activities share: they all start with something a child built themselves, and then extend into creative play that's entirely their own. The Cubles character isn't just the activity — it's the beginning of an afternoon of imagination.
That's what we love most about what we do. The building is just the start. What kids do after they build is where the real magic happens.
What do your kids do with their Cubles after they build them? We'd love to hear — reach out at info@cubles.com.
