“Not a Box” Project Description

For my ECE 211 seminar project, I collaborated with my 4-year-old daughter to create a whimsical and imaginative art piece we call the “Hanging Magical Box That Can Fly.”  Inspired by the book Not a Box by Antoinette Portis, we explored the idea that a simple box can become anything with creativity and imagination.

We started with a basic paper box structure and used a variety of open-ended art materials, including paint, glitter glue, pom-poms, pipe cleaners, stickers, foam letters, and paper scraps. These materials were intentionally chosen to support sensory exploration, fine motor skill development, and creative expression. The use of a handle made from pipe cleaners turned it into a “hanging” piece, which my daughter proudly describes as a “magical box that can fly.”

Throughout the project, my daughter made design decisions, painted, glued, and decorated with great enthusiasm. It became an opportunity for us to bond while encouraging her language, imagination, and storytelling skills. Her choice of the word “SASSY” on the front reflects her personality and growing sense of identity.

This project demonstrates the power of process art in early childhood — valuing the experience over the final product — and how even the simplest materials can become a platform for big ideas and magical thinking.