However digital your children are, we bet they’re still capable of having plenty of imaginative fun with a cardboard box, whether it’s a spaceship, a racing car or a parent-scaring jack-in-the-box.

They don’t *need* an app for that, obviously, but Moonbeeps: Gizmo is a brand new app that could bring a fun touchscreen twist to this kind of physical play.

“Gizmo is a control panel for a rocketship! A lunar rover! Or even a UFO! Whatever you imagine,” explains its App Store listing. “Grab a cardboard box, strap in your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and have an adventure of your very own.”

So, basically the app turns your iOS device into a dashboard for whatever role the nearest (real-world) cardboard box is playing for your children, with sliders, buttons, knobs and dials - and the sounds to match.

That includes three “defcon” buttons for green, yellow and red alerts, and a mode to use the device as a window into deep space, where there may be some surprises in wait for your children…

There will quite possibly be some grumpiness around this app: why do we need to introduce iPhones and iPads into cardboard-box play, etc. And if you fall into this camp, then obviously we wouldn’t recommend this app.

We love the idea, though: it might be introducing a device, but it’s not restricting your children’s imagination: if anything it can fuel their stories of cardboard-based derring-do.

Moonbeeps: Gizmo costs £0.79 for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store. We can also recommend checking out developer Moonbot Studios‘ other apps: its Moonbeeps series focuses on fun, single-use playful apps for children, but it also made the wonderful Numberlys and The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore apps back in the day.