Age: Choose a toy garage set that is recommended for your child’s age, as some playsets might be too complicated for younger children or may contain small parts that could be a choking hazard for younger children. Turn a cardboard box into a jump for cars! A total favorite. We used a diaper box and a cereal box. Add duct tape to make it look sharp, or just leave it as is. Build your own car ramps and garages for toy cars! These projects will show you how to turn cardboard boxes and other simple craft supplies into awesome homemade toys.

Hand or battery operated: While battery-operated ones are good for older kids, hand-operated toy garages are said to help develop fine motor skills, so choose accordingly.

Theme: Some toy garage playsets have a specific movie or race car theme, whereas others come in generic themes of parking garages or toy police car garages. Choose a theme in which your child has an interest, as they will be able to relate to it. If your house is like ours, you probably have a healthy collection of Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars lying around! I feel like I am constantly finding them under the couch, in my purse, in the laundry, etc. Can you relate?

Cardboard Box Garage with Ramps. (Noticing a theme here? There are endless things to do with cardboard boxes and toy cars!) Anyway, here is a great collection of ways to play with toy cars. Add a few simple materials, and you have a great project for a rainy day! DIY Parking Garage for Storage and Play (This gets used for imaginative play, plus it looks super cute!)Size: These toy garages come in all sizes, some are as big as three feet, while some come in more compact sizes, so choose one that is suitable as per the space available. Turn a shoe box into a car wash for toy cars. It’s easy to make spinning brushes with dowel rods, felt, and hot glue. Kids will want to wash every one of their cars! Make a poster board play mat. This is such a fun and open-ended project! Draw roads and destinations. Kids will have fun driving their cars through the drive-thru (we made In ‘n Out!) and parking in parking spaces.