One evening when the boys were driving me bonkers, I cut a hole in the top of a cardboard box and told them to drop all their blocks in it.
Little did I know this would keep them busy for an hour! There was no fighting, they just dropped the blocks in. The blocks came out the bottom and they started again.
Kiddo even said, "Thanks for making this, Mom."
No. Thank you.
MaryAnne says
Brilliant! =)
Sarah Slaven says
That's so cool, cracking up laughing here.
Steph says
I'm cracking up! Snagging this idea 🙂
Raising a Happy Child says
Too funny.
Jessica says
Nice!
You know, I've been experimenting with the "unschooling" concept this month and I've been surprised how much work it is for me. Not to mention, how much more Benjamin accomplishes when I don't actually "teach" him anything. Things like this--dropping blocks into a hole for an hour--can consume his interest and get him thinking/experimenting much more than when I was planning so-called lessons. In fact, I'm exhausted by the end of each day--moreso than when we did traditional homeschooling. LOL
Bona Fide Mama says
well how do you like that?
jenny says
Boxes would have to be one of the top 5 all time greatest open ended "toys" don't you think?
amandab says
It's always the simple things, isn't it? 😀