Who Needs stuff!!?...

...when you have each other?

Here's some more ideas from blogging friends:

Amanda P from A Thousand Words said...
I have some fresh ideas;Mud pies. Don't tell me you've forgotten the fabulous feeling of squishing mud through your fingers!Games. Games for sibs to play together, even better, games that I play with my boys to teach (counting, number and letter recognition, the meaning of symbols, rules, order, shapes, colors, etc.)We keep 99% of the toys in a closet, and each boy gets to choose a "new" toy each week, after they've cleaned up their room well enough to be vacuumed.Books, when 'advertised' around the house will be read!Craft stuff- as Julie says. My experience is that if you make it available (kids 4 and up) will use is correctly, and only correctly. Scissors, yes!Nature hikes, love 'em.Lincoln logs and plain old blocks mixed with cars or small animals.Train tracks are made to be built.Legos, doctor sets (do include notepads and pencils) old costumes/dress up clothes.I agree wholeheartedly with Julie that all this stuff doesn't provide much more than lust for more stuff. I see too that we must me intentional about setting up our stuff (ie: Julie's garage foosball table, or "letting" the kids make a huge mud pit in the backyard) Say yes to mess!
September 29, 2008 8:42 PM

Jennifer in OR from http://www.diaryof1.com/ said...
Hey Julie, great list! We love our homemade playdough, as you know. This would fall in the craft category, I suppose. Lots of regular cookie cutters of all designs to go with it.Leftover building materials are also fabulous. Since we just finished building, we have lots. For example, the bits of leftover tile - the kids are using this for their own "garden paths," and are also making mosaics out of it.
October 2, 2008 8:18 PM

BeccaB said...
When I was little my brother and I made lots of sock puppets. You take a piece of cardboard and cut out a circle, fold it down the middle and stuff it to the end of the sock. Mom can put a little stitch in the middle of the "mouth" to make it stay. Add yarn, google eyes and felt pieces and you've got characters for all kinds of stories. We even have some elaborate ones with sock arms and legs, noses, beards and clothes!When I was in high school and babysat I even brought materials for those kids to make some puppets to keep them from watching TV all summer. I saw them the other day (now in high school and college) and they started talking about those puppets! Good times!
September 29, 2008 5:51 PM

Mandy from http://creatinggoodsoil.blogspot.com/ said...
Here's a couple more thoughts for your list:

1. http://www.freecycle.com/

2. school supply recycling: At the end of the year, tons of still good supplies get dumped. Gather 'em up and reuse 'em. We don't need the shiny new scissors, your old ones will still work. Kids get this stuff...they'll be thrilled to help their earth.
October 3, 2008 11:29 AMsaid...