2022 Day of Play

Our October 1st event was a spectacular success!

We saw old (and new) friends in-person at LACC while
connecting with dozens of Creators around the globe.

Inspired like we were?
Host your own Cardboard Challenge
in your corner of the world!

Register Your Cardboard Challenge

Total Participants To Date

10 Years of “Caine’s Arcade”

It’s been a decade since the world first fell in love with Caine’s Arcade. This simple and powerful short film continues to resonate, with millions of kids (and thousands of educators) engaging in our Imagination.org’s annual Global Cardboard Challenge. Watch our follow up Caine’s Arcade 2 short film – From a Movie to a Movement.

Let’s Play!
Want to host a Cardboard Challenge for kids in your community? Download our Playbook to learn how or check out our FAQs. Already got your event organized? Register your Cardboard Challenge here and then use the hashtags #dayofplay & #cardboardchallenge to share your creations on social media! We’ll be watching and resharing. Let’s celebrate the creativity of kids worldwide!
Host A Cardboard Challenge

From a Movie to a Movement

It all began following the overwhelming success of the 2012 short film, ‘Caine’s Arcade’, the story of a creative 9-year boy and his elaborate cardboard arcade. After the response from kids and educators worldwide, the filmmaker made a follow-up short film, “Caine’s Arcade 2: From a Movie to a Movement”, and launched the non-profit Imagination.org with a Global Cardboard Challenge inviting kids of all ages to build whatever they can imagine with cardboard and upcycled materials. The challenge has since become an annual event, hosted by schools every year, and culminating in a Global Day of Play that celebrates the anniversary of the flashmob that came out to make Caine’s day in the original short film. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the creativity of kids like Caine in communities worldwide. Let’s Play!

Why Participate?

3 Reasons Among Thousands

Creativity is the most important skill of the future and the Cardboard Challenge is a powerful tool to foster it through playful learning.

The Cardboard Challenge brings the world together around the value of creativity. It’s a worldwide celebration of the genius of every child and the simple things adults can do to foster it.

Join The Global Movement

Help us inspire others and build the movement to foster creativity and entrepreneurship in kids around the world!
Share your ideas and creations with the world!
Use #cardboardchallenge and #dayofplay on your social media posts.
See more on Imagination.org’s social feeds

How To Participate

Imagination’s 2022 Day of Play is October 1st. Kids can gear up for the day with the Cardboard Challenge, which is an opportunity to build whatever they can dream up using cardboard, recyclables and imagination.

Join the Global Cardboard Challenge!

Join our 2,000,000+ participants around the world.

Host A Cardboard Challenge