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Hey there, I just signed up for the forums, and thought I'd post an introduction, and ask a few questions!
My name is Julie, I'm a SAHM in MD & I have two children - 26 month old son, and 16 month old daughter. I was just wondering does anyone have any ideas for crafts that we could do together at home? I spent two hours wandering around last night at Michaels Craft store trying to decide what to buy for a box that I could put together that only gets brought out now and then (thereby, seeming new and exciting to my kids)...
I unfortunately don't think I'm very creative in the crafts dept, and while looking at things like felt sheets, foam mailboxes, pipe cleaners, sparkley glue, beads and wot not, I couldn't come up with one thing that I could use them for. My poor kids should feel jipped. I also felt a bit overwhelmed wondering where I'd put the stuff I was going to buy!! Like is it more clutter??
I did come across these wooden chalk board slates that sorta looked like a picture frame, and some wooden type animals (fairly flat) that I thought we could glue to the frame, and perhaps jazz up with some kind of paint, or stickers. So I bought a few of the slates, with trains, airplanes and barnyard animals.
I also found playdoh - (which I've never given them before) but it's not like they can make much with that at their age, so I guess it will just be a tactile experience for them. It did come in a set with rollers and cookie cutter type equipment.
I also found these foam "wands", sorta like a foam star attached to the end of a stick, that I figured we could cut out ribbon and tie it on there, and then put some sparkles and glitter on the foam -- woo hoo. (I only got that idea because while we were at the Ren. Faire this past summer, my daughter danced until I bought her a "princess" wand).... I perhaps should not have quit my day job to be a stay at home mom...
My other question is, after my husband saw me putting together the box, he said that his mom had several boxes that she would rotate on a daily basis with him when he was a kid - our kids currently have access to all of their toys, all of the time, and I guess that's why nothing holds their attention for more than 10 seconds. Does anyone else put together toy boxes & if so, what kinda things do you come up with as far as activities go? What about organization methods for all their stuff?
Had I been smart, I would have put half of their Xmas presents into the closet, instead of letting them have everything at once.
Is there a less expensive option that I should be pursuing rather than Michaels, for all these fun things?
Can you please, please, please give me some ideas. I blew $60, and wouldn't mind that so much, if I had even an inkling of what I'm going to do with the stuff I brought home!!
Also, are there other types of lists, sites or yahoo groups for this kind of chatter? I kind of need a refresher course on "imaginative" play, just for using all the stuff they currently have.
My son is quite into "the little people", and we have the barn, the garage, the firestation, and a construction site - how do other people contain this stuff, store it, or play with it? My daughter is really into her shopping cart, fake food, and play kitchen, but again, the stuff is everywhere!! How do you keep it all organized, and together?
Thanks for any and all suggestions!! Desperate to amuse my children for even 3 minutes at a time!
Answer:
We have "busy boxes" at our house. They are rubbermade boxes, about the size of a man's shoe box. They have lids on them. In them, we have things such as stamps (self inking AND ink pad ones), stickers, notepads of various shapes and sizes, a small magnadoodle, markers, pens, pencils, that sort of thing. These boxes are only pulled out on my very worst, "kids are driving me nuts" days. lol
Also, as far as your childrens' "little pieces" on different toys, I would recommend the same type of storage containers (The Dollar Store sells them!). We keep the boxes stacked up in the close, cause they are easier to manage AND pick up that way!