History Main / KidsPreferBoxes

* As mentioned under the Animated Films folder, ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' [[PlayedForDrama plays this trope for drama]] in the [[Film/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas Halloweentown]] world. When Sora and company revisit the world later in the game, they discover that someone has been stealing presents from Santa's workshop and fear that Jack Skellington might be behind it--but it turns out that it's actually a massive Heartless known only as the Experiment. At one point, the Experiment throws one of the stolen gifts at the group while escaping, and Jack steps on the teddy bear that was inside to pick up the box instead, remarking that ''this'' is the "present" part of the gift. Jack and the Experiment have this in common, as the latter tries to take as many boxes as possible, regardless of whether or not something's inside. [[WomenAreWiser Sally]] eventually figures out what the Experiment was up to--a present is a way of showing someone that you care for them, which, in a way, is like giving someone your heart. Since the Heartless...well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin lack hearts]], the Experiment thought it could someone become whole by taking the gifts for itself.

* Short-lived, but Isaac of ''VideoGame/Mother3'' initially finds more use for the Happy Box's box than the Happy Box itself (the "Happy Box" is basically a television, not itself an example of this trope.)

* Referenced in [[http://thisisindexed.com/2012/12/aww-yeah-cardboard/ a pie chart]] from ''Webcomic/{{Indexed}}''. The amount of fun had by the toddler with the actual toy is much, much less than the fun had with the box it came in.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' buys a big television set, and immediately tosses it in favor of spending the entire episode playing with Patrick in the cardboard box that the television was packaged in. Squidward, of course, is perplexed by the concept, but at least he gets a free TV...which just so happens to give him shows about ''boxes'' every time he flips the channel.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' buys a big television set, and immediately tosses it in favor of spending the entire episode playing with Patrick in the cardboard box that the television was packaged in. Squidward, of course, is perplexed by the concept.

* ''VideoGame/{{Littlewood}}'': One of the furniture options is a cat tree. If it's examined, the FlavorText calls it "not as fun as an empty carboard box".

* ''Webcomic/BatmanAndSons'': Terry shows what his favorite thing is in [[http://the-blackcat.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d1r9n7q this.]]

* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'', [[http://www.sinfest.net/view.php?date=2010-06-25 Monique also prefers bubble wrap]].

* ''Business Cat'' receives the [[http://www.businesscat.happyjar.com/comic/photocopier new photocopier.]]
** [[http://www.businesscat.happyjar.com/comic/valhalla The deliveries came.]]

* Packages containing dry ice. [[http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail115.html Froosh.]]
* [[http://mylifeisaverage.com/story/3126141/ This story]] from [=MyLifeIsAverage=].

* For [=MasterCard=]: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDf751c1yiA Watching her play with a cardboard box instead: Priceless]]."

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AxogCo4dV4 This Christmas promo]] for [=WWEshop=].com and the Elimination Chamber playset. DX was [[ShamelessSelfPromotion shamelessly promoting WWE and/or DX]] [[MerchandiseDriven merch]] as usual. After talking about all the toy's features, Wrestling/ShawnMichaels has a nervous breakdown talking about it, how much stress it is to put ''that'' toy together while his kids forget all the ''other'' crap they got for Christmas, and after it's finished, "AND THEN THEY ONLY WANT TO PLAY WITH THE BOX! [[NoIndoorVoice AAAAAAHHHH!"]].

* ''Webcomic/BatmanAndSons'': Terry shows what his favorite thing is in [[http://the-blackcat.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d1r9n7q this]].

* ''Business Cat'' receives the [[http://www.businesscat.happyjar.com/comic/photocopier/ new photocopier]].
** [[http://www.businesscat.happyjar.com/comic/valhalla/ The deliveries came]].
* A ''Webcomic/DorkTower'' [[http://www.dorktower.com/2018/09/13/cat-toy-story-dork-tower-09-13-18/ strip]] involved Matt buying an expensive cat toy.

* A ''Babylon Bee'' parody claims that [[https://babylonbee.com/news/biblical-scholars-claim-jesus-ignored-gold-frankincense-myrrh-just-played-with-the-boxes-they-came-in baby Jesus just played with the boxes that his gold, frankincense, and myrrh came in]].

** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS18E15RomeOldAndJuliEh Rome-Old and Julie-Eh]]", Bart and Lisa build an ''amazing'' castle out of cardboard boxes in their garden, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb7peg0gq-o and they defend it against an army of delivery-truck workers]].

* "Cardboard box" [[http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2005-11-12-cardboard-box_x.htm has been added to the Toy Hall of Fame]], ''alongside Jack-in-the-box and Candyland''. ''That's'' how awesome boxes are.

* ''VideoGame/{{Omori}}'': A series of photos from the [[spoiler:real-world]] photo album show Sunny receiving a building block set for his birthday, only for him to show much more interest in the large box it came in, curling up inside of it with Mewo.

* ''Webcomic/{{Shortpacked}}'': [[http://www.shortpacked.com/index.php?id=1778 Seen in a strip,]] except instead of a "kid" it's Shattered Glass-Ravage (an excitable, [[Website/{{Twitter}} Yatter]]-obsessed robot cat).

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' spends a full episode playing in a cardboard box with Patrick. Squidward, of course, is perplexed by the concept.

Kids covet boxes while ignoring the (presumably valuable) contents inside. This happens to many parents when they purchase a super-special, ultra-rare, highly-expensive present for their kid, usually for a birthday or Christmas. But when the present is unwrapped, the recipient will carelessly toss it aside while they focus their attention at the most '''awesome''' cardboard box it came in.

A common gag in comedies with small children, and a case of TruthInTelevision for a lot of parents.

This trait is also shared with cats, which is, again, true in real life, and perhaps more easily justifiable. See also MundaneObjectAmazement, MyNewGiftIsLame, UnwantedGiftPlot, and WorthlessYellowRocks.

Kids (and cats) covet boxes while ignoring the (presumably valuable) contents inside. This happens to many parents when they purchase a super-special, ultra-rare, highly-expensive present for their kid, usually for a birthday or Christmas.

But when the present is unwrapped, the recipient will carelessly toss it aside while they focus their attention at the most '''awesome''' cardboard box it came in.

Also see MundaneObjectAmazement, MyNewGiftIsLame, UnwantedGiftPlot, and WorthlessYellowRocks.

* ''Franchise/ArchieComics'':

* Cats love boxes. They love hiding in them. It's the best way to catch a cat. Set out a box and leave. Come back in five minutes. The cat will be in the box. No muss, no fuss. They'll do the same with paper bags if you can't find a box. Or laundry baskets, especially when there's laundry in them. There's an [[MemeticMutation internet meme]] about this behavior in felines: "If I fits, I sits."

* Short-lived, but Isaac of ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'' initially finds more use for the Happy Box's box than the Happy Box itself (the "Happy Box" is basically a television, not itself an example of this trope.)

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* In ''Literature/PetSematary'' when the Creed family celebrate Christmas, "both kids had decided by midafternoon that the boxes were more fun than the toys."

* This trope is the reason plastic bags used in packaging come with '''"DANGER: This bag is NOT A TOY.''' Keep out of reach of children"-type warnings.

Kids (and cats) covet boxes while ignoring the (presumably valuable) contents inside. Many parents learn this the hard way -- little Cindy's birthday is coming up soon, and unsuspecting Alice and Bob want it to be super-special for her, so they search high and low for a super-special ultra-rare highly-expensive toy as her present. As the birthday approaches, the two of them bubble over with excitement as they imagine how vivacious she'll be when she finally receives it.

So the party is held, cake gets eaten, and Cindy goes through her gifts. At the end, she opens Alice and Bob's present, yelps with glee... then carelessly tosses it aside while she trills at the most '''awesome''' cardboard box it came in! Just imagine the possibilities!

Also see MundaneObjectAmazement, MyNewGiftIsLame, UnwantedGiftPlot, and WorthlessYellowRocks. Compare BlanketFort.