Help me make an invention centre for my 4yo

[MummyTheTramEngine]

DS adores junk modeling at the moment so we thought we would make him a special crafting/inventing cupboard. There's a space in our kitchen where we can install one of those pull-out cupboards, and we're going to put in loads of cardboard boxes, tubes, sheets of card, etc. We'll also have different kinds of tape in dispensers, string yarn and ribbons, paints and stickers. Scissors.

Can you think of anything else that would make this more fun? I thought maybe plastic tubing might be good, any thoughts ?

That's lovely :) mine liked using coloured lollipop sticks, I bought a big pack of them and they were well used..also tissue paper, foil, feathers. What about a big notebook/scrapbook so he can plan his inventions (at age 4 he could draw them I guess??)
You could also add glitter depending on your tolerance level for it

You should see if you have a 'scrapstore' anywhere near you. You could get some bits for there, or give him some 'credit' to spend there after Christmas. My kids loved Makedo for junk modelling.

Oh and electrical tape and masking tape are particularly useful.

plastic cups and paper plates
fabric offcuts
I always keep a check on our Sainsbury's kids craft section as often they have say pompoms reduced, or coloured sticks, so can build up a decent but cheap collection over time.

Thank you, all great ideas! Love the notebook for planning!

Don't know if it may be a bit old for him, but my 9 year old loves this book

Thanks for the recommendation I'll check it out!

Pound shops are normally good for things. Get loads of plastic tubs and put in - goggle eyes, stickers, letters and numbers stickers, kid safety scissors, tissue paper, glitter glue, lollipop sticks, sequins, ball of twine or rope.
I got a pack of white cut out pirate shape people, that the kids then drew on to design their own pirates, and then they stuck them on a junk pirate ship we made, so something like that might be good if you find it.
I would have a good look in poundland or B&m and look at all their arts and crafts stuff.

I was going to suggest the scrapstore too, it's fantastic for junk modelling.

I got this book for my now 8yo a couple of years ago - he loves making things and did quite a few out of the book.
I also got a set from the Bookpeople, but can't find that one now.

The works does lovely crafty bits. Also you can get buttons and Pom pond eye pretty cheap on Ali express.

Straws, sticky Velcro, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, mini pegs, different sizes of cardboard rolls (from toilet paper/ tin foil/ kitchen paper etc), parcel stickers (that can be coloured and cut to shape), interesting paper (patterned, coloured, glitter, holographic foil, magazine pages), elastic bands in various sizes, masking tape (easy to tear), cheapest possible double sided tape ( cheap tears easily), Blu tack..........and another 6 empty cupboards to store the creations

Would he like some string, carabiners, block & tackle/pulleys, clamps and that type of thing? Can all be picked up very inexpensively from eBay/pound shops.

MDF blanks are also good (try the Range, The Works, eBay, Amazon) as are cheap packs of precut balsa wood. I let my children have a junior hacksaw from age 4, but only for use under my supervision. To be honest, they preferred just gluing the smaller precut pieces together at that age anyway.

Sounds like a great present!

Oh wow I'd never have thought of a lot of this stuff- we're going to need a bigger cupboard!