When it comes to toys and child’s play, sometimes the best stuff you can give your children is free.
My father always jokes that his only toy growing up during the Great Depression was a “Do-de-do.” This toy is basically an empty toilet paper tube that you can hum into and pretend that you are playing a horn. You can lead the charge, march in a parade or turn the toy into a bull horn. All it takes is imagination.
I am reminded of this as I watch my children play. They’ve conned me into giving up their naps for the day, since it is raining outside and there is just so much to do inside. They turned all of the expensive, elaborate toys, filled with noises and music and lights, into a little village of three custom constructed homes, with all of the comforts. Pillows, blankets and stuffed toys for pets add to the mix.
I’m hiding out in the family room slash office trying to get a head start on work so I can take the weekend off, or at least part of the weekend off. The kids are happily playing away, only this time they are adding mailboxes to their houses. One wanders in to my electronic circle of glowing laptop light and asks if I have any mail. I have to look around. The desk is unusually clutter free.
Ha ha. Below the desk is a file box full of magazines. I have been meaning to go through them. Not a single magazine was actually purchased by us. Some come in the mail through free subscriptions, some were given to us from friends and family, and a few were, oops, actually purchased from the library at the price of $1 for the year.
I reach into the box and start pulling out the subscription cards. There are many of them, and they are mostly different. I try to pick particular cards for particular kids. Molly gets the ones with the flowers, Andrew gets the ones with tools and houses on them, Henry gets the babies and the rare Santa subscription card. The kids admire each others mail and start trading.
Cost for this rainy afternoon: Priceless.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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