Think inside the box!

I brought a Staples box home from work last night.

They played with this "rocketship" for over an hour.

You can't tell from the picture, but the box has been decorated with elaborate curlycues in black pen, and also lots of tiny holes from them poking the pen into the cardboard. ("It needs more holes, Mommy!" they said, enthusiastically poking away. They even tried poking holes with a crayon, but learned quickly that crayons break if you press them too hard. See? They're learning about FORCE! That's science and I didn't even have to stop fixing dinner for them to learn about it. Yay! But I digress. As usual.)

Anyway, as I am in the middle of making out the list of things to get for the kids for Christmas -- and also collecting lots of great ideas from friends who commented on yesterday's post -- I was glad to be reminded by Cary and Dean last night that sometimes the best toys, and best learning experiences, don't cost a thing.