Cheapest Homemade Toy Ever

I'm not a fan of the aisles and aisles of plastic toys at Target and every other store I go to. Not that we don't have our fair share of plastic toys. We certainly do, and we got a Mr Potato Head just last weekend.

But in general I try to steer clear of getting every beeping, buzzing, bouncing licensed character gizmo on the market.

I like open-ended play that encourages creativity. My daughter is just as likely to pull out her set of measuring cups and a bowl as she is to get out an actual toy.

So, a cheap, open-ended and homemade toy is just about the best thing I can offer her.

A few weeks ago, we finished a big tub of oatmeal and rather than toss it in the recycling bin I gave it to my daughter to decorate with stickers. I cut a hole in the lid, and cut up a cereal box into rectangular strips.

My 2 year old actually occupied herself with the oatmeal tub for almost an hour!

She still pulls it out most days, dumping and replacing the cardboard strips, adding puzzling pieces, and shaking the whole thing like a giant noisemaker.

From trash to toy? Can't beat that!

Shared at Frugal Friday

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