A Simple, One-Sitting Screen Free Project: Build Your Own Desk Caddy

Most afternoons my friend's daughter’s desk looks like a stationery soup. Pens, Post-its, mystery paper clips—you know the drill. Nagging never lasts, so we tried something different: giving her a spot she’d actually want to keep organised.

That’s how we landed on the Build-Your-Own Desk Caddy Kit from Alive Studio. Forty minutes later, she built a bright three-tier organiser—start to finish on her own—and the mess hasn’t crept back since.

What’s in the box

• Pre-scored cardstock panels (they fold where they should).

• Five patterned paper sets for decorating.

• Mini glue bottle + bone folder for crisp edges.

• Stickers & pocket journal for the final flourish.

No scissors, no craft knives, no drama.

Why swap a YouTube scroll for a paper build?

• Hands get busy. Folding and pressing fires those fine-motor muscles.

• Design decisions are theirs. Picking colours is sneaky problem-solving.

• Immediate payoff. When the caddy stands up, so does their pride.

Kids spend seven hours a day on entertainment screens, on average, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics aap.org. Research shows replacing even one of those hours with a hands-on task can lift mood and improve focus pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

“Sunday is now ‘caddy restock day.’ I just watch and sip coffee.” — Neha, Gurgaon

Try it this weekend

Cover the dining table with a baking mat, cue up some lo-fi beats, and let the kit take over. Your only job is the proud-parent photo afterward.

Order here