How to Make a Kids Table Tennis Game with Cardboard

The rest of the pieces are simple straight cuts. See the pattern pieces below and their measurements. Use thicker shipping cardboard boxes for the blades, handles, and net, which need strength. Use thinner cereal box cardboard to create the posts and bases, which is easier to bend and fold.

Using painter’s tape, tape off the bottom sections of both blades on both sides, and then using craft paint, paint each side of the blades. Once the paint dries, peel off the painters tape to reveal clean edges on the front and back of each blade.

Little hands need something thick to hold for grip. To create the paddle, glue the small insert to the back side of one handle pieces using hot glue, lining up the bottom edges. Next, use hot glue to secure the blade to the handle

Using green craft paint, add a couple of layers of paint. Once it’s dry, use white craft paint, or a white paint pen to draw a grid to create the net. Use a ruler to help keep the lines neat and even.

Using your fingernail or the hard edge of an object (such as a nail), gently score the lines in the cardboard which will help the cardboard to bend easier. Fold the posts along the fold lines. Trim the edges of the cardboard as needed so that the posts fold up neatly and evenly. After the pieces are folded, use hot glue to secure the posts to each side of the net. Paint the posts with 1-2 coats of craft paint.

To keep the table tennis net from falling over during a game, a base will need to be added. Using the pattern dimensions above, cut two pieces of thin cardboard from cereal boxes, and score along the lines so that folding is easy. After scoring, add 1-2 coats of craft paint to match the posts. Once the paint has dried, use hot glue gun to secure each post to the base.

Now that everything has been constructed, let the games begin! Grab a white board or make your own DIY chalkboard with scrap wood and chalkboard paint to keep score!