Comments on: Christmas Inspiration from a Stick and a Cardboard Box

By: John DeFlumeri Jr

John DeFlumeri Jr — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:55:56 +0000

The type toys you mention Will be played with a lot more than some of the hi-tech electronics, that when easily broken, become garbage, or go out of stlye prematurely. It’s a money saving, good idea.

John DeFlumeri Jr.

By: Mo

Mo — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:37:18 +0000

The Strong Museum of Play is located in Rochester, NY where we live. We have a family membership so we usually go at least once or twice a month with my 3 small grandchildren. We never get tired of it because most of the museum is hands-on-play and they change the exhibits all the time. I highly recommend it.

After a couple of Christmas of watching my grandchildren opening up one expensive toy after another and then seeing how quickly, they got bored with those toys, I decided to try something different. Last year, I went to the dollar store and bought them each a small basket and then filled them with dollar store toys. Ones that they had asked for each time we went to the store. Now when they come to see me, they get out their baskets and play with those toys and then put them back. I’m sure the expensive toys have rarely made it off the toy shelves since last Christmas.

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:34:10 +0000

Some wonderful examples of things that will bring joy to a child have been provided – and they are inexpensive. In our house, the simple gifts have always been the ones we’ve chosen for our kids, and was ok if it was something that was picked up at a thrift store or garage sale too – my kids got some wonderful gifts from their aunt because she knew we wouldn’t be offended by a gift that wasn’t fresh from the store, and that the kids would never know the difference. This thread has me thinking that soon we’ll all be bombarded with requests to give toys to the unfortunate, and those toys must be brand new and in the box. I remember when programs like Toys for Tots and such requested used toys, but now the needy need them brand new. I’m sure the stores prefer that we donate new, but I think it’s wrong. I’m also bracing for a higher degree of whining that “my kids won’t have a Christmas this year because I lost my job”. As this thread is showing, there are so many simple and inexpensive things that children will love and appreciate.

By: Bavaria

Bavaria — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:24:11 +0000

My sisters and I loved to play ‘dress up’ and it was all done with stuff from Salvation Army–old prom dresses, discarded Halloween costumes, suits, scarves, hats, crazy shoes, and costume jewelery. It was great fun to be pirates, cowboys and indians, southern belles, etc…

By: J

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:53:20 +0000

The Strong Museum of Play (which hosts the site) is a fantastic place to take kids. We took out three year old there and she had a great time.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:38:13 +0000

This reminds me of the “toys” my Grandma used to have around her house. Little plastic tubes (which I later found out were the rolls from adding machine tape), scratch paper and pens to draw on (their old junk mail) and plastic containers (butter, sour cream, you name it). You’re right Trent, the name of the game was imagination. Funny that I remember that stuff more than the other toys my parents bought me brand new.

By: Rosie

Rosie — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:33:49 +0000

when i was little i remember my brother and i playing with army men. my parents got a pack of 100 from the dollar store. we would tie plastic bags to them and throw them off the balcony so they could parachute. my sister and i used to play “shops” by taking all the canned food out of the pantry and we would take turns shopping and ringing them up. we also did that with books and made a library.

By: DivaJean

DivaJean — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:51:22 +0000

When I was a kidlet, I had a Barbie townhouse- it was the platinum standard among my friends for toys. Did I play with it? NO. I preferred to convert cardboard boxes and odds & ends into my own house for dolls.

Fast forward to now. My son is constantly revising his Hogwarts castle- built out of cardboard boxes and odds & ends for his Harry Potter action figures.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:50:13 +0000

The Strong Museum of Play is absolutely outstanding!!!! When you plan a family vacation to Niagara Falls, swing by. The grandparents will love all the old toys on display and the kids will have a fantastic time with all the creative things for them to do.

I like to give an “art box.” That is, a pad of construction paper, colors, tape, kid scissors, etc. in a box with a lid for tidy storage.

By: Maureen

Maureen — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:51:12 +0000

One of the best ‘toys’ we ever invested in was a sandbox. It was enjoyed for many years.

Another frugal ‘toy’ was a bin filled with water with boats to float and cups to pour.

Life’s simple pleasures are the best…

By: Saver Queen

Saver Queen — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:15:04 +0000

One of my favourite homemade toys consisted of a piece of plastic. My parents used to have a waterbed (I grew up in the 80s) and when it popped, my mom let it dry out and then folded it up and kept it in the closet. Around that time, “slip ‘n’ slides” came into style. (Anyone remember those?) My sister and I wanted one but my parents never had the money for brand name toys. Instead, my mom hauled the plastic sheet onto a hump in the backyard and put the sprinkler on it. My sister and I loved running and slipping down that waterbed sheet!

By: sunny

sunny — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:52:15 +0000

My favorites as a kid, card table and a sheet for a tent, stick horse (do they even make them anymore?)and a coffee can with holes poked in the lid for whatever I trapped.

By: Chetan

Chetan — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:38:36 +0000

Totally agree.

When it comes to toys, that ripped-up old Teddy Bear beats the amplified guitar any day. My daughter still loves the old tea set that grandma gave her even though she’s already received several shiny new (and expensive) toys in subsequent parties.

I just put in a post about spending low-cost, high-quality time with your kids, and I believe nothing can beat that, though.

By: Molly

Molly — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:15:56 +0000

When I was about 5, and my sister was 3, my mom and dad got us a box of “misfit” toys. We were broke, so my mom went to a thrift store and bought a ton of My Little Ponies, books, and a bunch of other stuff, and put it in a huge box. We played with those toys for years, and its still one of my favorite Christmas memories.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:03:47 +0000

Our daughter’s best toys were as many books as she wanted to read, a big box that we turned into a “house” for her and a round, library style kick stool that we turned into a “stove” for her. The library supplied most of the books. Everyone has probably turned a box into a playhouse. In the case of the stool, we just added some paper “knobs” to make it look like a stove and gave her some old pots and pans. Today she is a National Merit Semifinalist, a musician, and a fantastic cook. No batteries needed.

By: A Dawn Jornal

A Dawn Jornal — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:02:12 +0000

This is the time of the year when we share with those who are less fortunate. At my work, we are participating in Christmas Shoebox Project. It’s very simple. Pack some toys, books, and games in a shoebox and it will be sent to children around the world.
Cheers,
A Dawn Journal
Toronto, Canada
http://www.adawnjournal.com

By: Ryan McLean

Ryan McLean — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:39:51 +0000

Great article. Really these toys are so great because they are only limited to the imagination of a child. I think as we get older we lose that imagination and which is why we need more expensive items. If we just learnt to cultivate our imagination then we could achieve so much more

By: Susy

Susy — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:14:59 +0000

My favorite things to play with as a child were bugs & flowers. My parents didn’t buy us many toys (only ones that spurred the imagination & creativity). So we made due with flowers & stuff. Never missed all the toys.

It’s funny because when you watch those shows like, 1940′s house, 1900′s house, frontier house, the kids didn’t have any toys but they made their own and entertianed themselves without them.

By: Super Mom

Super Mom — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:24:46 +0000

I was really surprized not to see puppets on the list. Our children would spend hours playing with them and putting on puppet shows. In fact, as we’re having a mostly homemade Christmas this year, I’m making felt puppets and a puppet theatre for my husband’s grandson.

It was always the simplest of toys that our children returned to time and again for their imaginative play.

By: Sara at On Simplicity

Sara at On Simplicity — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:19:49 +0000

And perhaps a copy of “Not a Stick” or “Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis. I know, kinda ruins the whole “essentially free” thing, but these two kids’ books describe the phenomena exactly. Great way to incorporate literacy as well.