Setting Up Shop on a Budget: Recommended Thrift Store Finds

 

I am all about being thrifty here when it comes to setting up my playroom and I felt similarly when I had a formal classroom to set up as well. I shared my list of recommended dollar store finds yesterday and there are still some things that I suck it up and pay full price for when I can (or stick on a wish list for special occasions). That being said, many things can be purchased secondhand at a thrift store, garage or estate sale and now on websites like Facebook Marketplace or community groups like Curbside Pickup. 

I especially like shopping secondhand shops. It's a sense of adventure walking into a place where you have no idea what you'll find on any given day! It's also a great way to keep useful things from ending up in our landfills while saving money at the same time. I also think it teaches children a great lesson in reducing, reusing, recycling and re-purposing when they join in on the adventure. It is also helpful when they can come at it from the other end and donate clothing and toys that they are no longer using. Many thrift stores support agencies, families and people with a variety of needs and this can be something to look into when you are choosing where to shop.

So here is my list of recommended thrift store finds to keep your eyes peeled for. It is by no means a complete list and I am always randomly thinking of and discovering new ideas when it comes to using secondhand items in a playroom or classroom...

Whereas I do not recommend skimping on toys for the most part at a dollar store or otherwise due to poor quality and short shelf life, I do recommend making use of secondhand shops for gently used toys, especially vintage ones! I have found very valuable cabbage patch dolls for a few bucks at a thrift store just around the corner from my home, and while I'm in it for the nostalgia more than the monetary value, scouting out thrift stores for toys from when I was growing up is a fun activity for my kids as well. They love seeing and playing with the toys their mommy and tatty played with as little kids!

I've also found more recently manufactured toys like Legos, magnetiles/magniformers, Melissa & Doug sets, various manipulatives and building toys, blocks, toy food and dishes, barbie dolls, baby dolls, new/like new puppets and stuffed animals, character toys/figurines, Playmobile sets, and many other popular toys for kids of all ages and stages sitting in like new or even brand new condition on thrift store shelves. Active play equipment like tunnels, parachutes, tents and sporting equipment can also be purchased secondhand.

I have found that the quality of Legos new and used is no different, especially when it comes to supporting a huge imagination with an equally huge stash of blocks to build with. Lego, Duplo, Mega Blocks and similar items can definitely be purchased secondhand. And when it comes to things like Barbie or the up-charge in a big box store for a Disney character my kid may or may not like in a few years (or months), I'd rather go secondhand here, too. When it comes to plastic toys, even larger ones like kitchen sets, shopping carts, riding toys with a short shelf life before they are outgrown, etc, thrift stores are great! It keeps that plastic from the landfill for at least a little longer. Our old kitchen set just moved on to its third (at least) home. 

I like to bring my kids along with me once in a while (though admittedly not every time I go). I let them each pick out one thing (and set a budget). You must be fully prepared to "steer" them in the "right" direction and also for the aftermath of when they choose something you don't prefer (like a noisy toy and lights up and still has batteries!). But sometimes, they will find a total treasure (like when I thought S found a piece of junk that was really an expensive programmable robot building set). I do make sure that my kids are gentle and careful in the store and look with their eyes before asking to use their hands. If a thrift store is particularly crowded and stocked to the brim with breakable antiques, this may not be the one to bring your kids to. The one I usually take my kids to has a separate space with toys and very friendly staff.

S has been enamored with maps since learning about
and coloring in the map of the United States. He was
thrilled with this world atlas and especially when
we discovered a huge poster inside with a map of the
United States, which now hangs proudly in the kids' room!

Books are a great thing to purchase secondhand. If you can find them online that way, great! The thrift store is another great way to go. I have collected some great children's books, gardening books, cook books, coffee table books, art books and more for very cheap.
Also be on the lookout for children's books that may be out of print or vintage children's books with particularly lovely illustrations. Even books that have damage to them or less preferable story lines but beautiful pictures can be used to create paper dolls and story telling props by cutting out and laminating pictures. I would have a very hard time cutting up a book that is in good condition, but ones that are in poor condition and old magazines are sold very cheaply or even given away at secondhand shops and libraries and these can be great for collage. We have found amazing atlases, books about science and nature, animals, travel and places around the world--these are all great finds for curious minds. I especially treasure ones with photographs. Non-fiction books like this can also be used in dramatic play settings to encourage a print rich environment. Art books and books about artists can accompany an atelier or art shelf. Cookbooks can be a great addition to a kitchen set. Classics are classics are classics. Thrift stores are a fabulous place to round out your Beatrix Potter collection, your Little House series and any of your other favorite novels.

Clothing is often something most people think of when they go thrift store shopping and we have found some good things that way, too, for actual use or dress up--but here are some of the less obvious finds I keep my eyes peeled for:

Art supplies like embroidery hoops, sewing notions, yarn, oil or chalk pastels and other artist quality materials, knitting needles, crochet hooks, rubber stamps and even easels can be found at thrift stores. I don't use a sewing machine and cannot vouch for it, but I know others have found them secondhand. Fabric remnants and even clothing/linens to use for the purpose of re-purposing are great when purchased secondhand.

Speaking of linens-- I do not generally go for sheets, blankets or towels secondhand but I do go for cloth napkins secondhand. We have pretty much gone paperless when it comes to napkins here (aside from the occasional party or celebration). I keep a basket of mismatched cloth napkins and about once a year, I toss any that are badly stained or falling apart and replace with some "new" secondhand napkins. I also keep my eyes open for lovely vintage linens, doilies, aprons, tablecloths, etc. They don't make 'em like they used to--especially handmade items. 

 When it comes to setting up my outdoor spaces, I like secondhand finds like this toy grill for a mud kitchen and a variety of metal and tin cooking accessories to go with it. Dramatic play about cooking--whether it is indoors or outside, is so much more fun with "real" objects. I have stocked my kids' kitchen set here with "real" tea sets, dishes, bowls, pots and pans, candle sticks, cloth napkins and tablecloths, silverware, utensils, and even some "toy" dishes and accessories purchased secondhand. When introducing fragile items to children for play (like porcelain tea sets and dishes), I love the thrift store as a go-to option. If an item is broken, as will inevitably happen at one time or another, you have not lost a family heirloom and you can also find some good "transitional" objects like silver/metal tea sets and such.

 Items found in kitchen wares and home goods at the thrift store can be used inside, outside, for storage, for display, for set up and for dramatic play and even sensory play. I am ever on the lookout for

• wooden salad bowl sets
• unique tin, metal, copper and silver dishes, pots, pans and utensils
• beautiful tea sets and accessories
• pretty silverware in small sizes
• mortars and pestles 
• trays
• tin boxes
• costume jewelry
• old/vintage suitcases for dramatic play and dress up storage
• scarves for dressing up dolls and people
• other clothes for unique dress up items--I am cautious with hats/head-wear and I like to launder and/or ziplock bag or dryer treat anything made from cloth (including stuffed animals/puppets) before use
• real instruments from around the world
• interesting art and artifacts from other countries and cultures
• old phones, computer keyboards, typewriters, and similar electronics, etc. for dramatic play and even for tinkering/taking apart
• small bowls, tiny baskets, interesting jars and containers for art, sensory play, etc.
• wooden utensils in a variety of sizes for sensory play
• cookie cutters for playdough, clay and paint printing

 And when it comes to storing and setting this stuff up...

THRIFT STORE BASKETS ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND! Baskets can be expensive and I love their look and versatility. Indoors they last for quite a while. Outdoors, they last for a few years before returning to the earth. I love finding baskets secondhand. You can usually tell by the feel of it how well a basket is made. They are also great for transporting materials and giving gifts.


I also like purchasing interesting tote bags and large purses or duffel bags secondhand. They are so useful for shopping, storing, transporting things and even using as gift wrap (even better if the gift is also secondhand or made by hand)! Now with so many grocery chains and cities doing away with single use plastics, reusable bags are a must for every shopper and what's a more economical and environmentally friendly way to acquire those than secondhand?

Furniture for storage and play is another great thing to purchase secondhand. I created our current kitchen play set from a $10 piece of re-furbished furniture, and aside from the hassle of getting it into and out of my van, it has been beyond worth every penny. You can find secondhand classroom furniture at thrift stores every so often as well--think book shelves, high quality wooden kitchen sets, doll furniture, desks/small tables and chairs, child sized rocking chairs, easels, train tables, etc. You might also think a bit outside the box and look in the "grown up" furniture section for items that can be used in a different setting or re-furbished for use in a playroom or classroom.

Be on the lookout for quality tools, gardening supplies, unique artwork/decor, vases and the like. Sometimes you might even fall in love with a beautiful frame even if you aren't in love with the current artwork inside. You can use it to frame your own art or to hang/display children's art. We keep a strictly kosher home, so buying dishes and cookware secondhand is not something we'd do for our kitchen. For play, it is a great option and for those who can use it in their actual kitchens, thrift stores are a great place to shop for high quality items like cast iron and the like.

Many thrift stores are connected to places of worship or agencies affiliated with schools and childcare. I have found amazing teaching resources secondhand and classroom items ranging from furniture (as mentioned earlier) to math manipulatives, resource books, games, globes, maps and more. 

It is ever so tempting these days to shop with one click of the finger and have your purchase show up two days later. It is also expensive and it is also not always the ideal way to care for our environment and resources. When I can, I love to make use of secondhand options and thrift store shopping is a great way to do this right in your own community. Now if only I were that good at actually getting my own donations from the trunk of the car to the thrift shop...

Happy, Thrifty Playing!

Setting Up Shop on a Budget: Recommended Dollar Store Finds

One of my most frequently asked questions from other parents and educators is "where did you get _____?" And my response has so often been "The Dollar Tree," that some have suggested I ask for commission there.

Now, some things I cannot wholeheartedly recommend purchasing at a dollar store type place (like the recorder pictured to the left: while the instrument costs $1 and the smile is priceless, your sanity is invaluable and, as it turns out, also irreplaceable).

In general, some things at the dollar store are not of the highest quality and won't last very long--toys are often one of those things. And it's pretty hard to walk in there with a kid and not walk out with at least one toy that will maybe break when you get home or even in the car on the mile long drive there. Make your decisions accordingly.


But here is a list of items I do suggest checking your dollar store for before you go and spend more money elsewhere. And even though this is a list of suggested items for a classroom and/or home playroom, I encourage you to think outside the toy aisle! This list is by no means comprehensive, but it's a good starting spot! And it by no means implies that you should buy everything on it!

"Toys" and Playthings:

When it comes to toys and props for play, I generally don't spend too much time on the toy aisle. That said, some things that can be found there and are worth it include:

• toy cars, trucks and other vehicles
• small animals, dinosaurs, etc.
• glow sticks for light play
• bubbles solution
• playdough
• wooden dollhouse furniture
• jigsaw puzzles
• balls
• sometimes dress-up items (particularly around Halloween time) but also consider the "clothing" department for this including child sized aprons. Also consider seasonal or holiday themed props like bunny ears, bug/butterfly wings, etc.

Every once in a while, I will find a toy that is just perfect for a particular finger play, action rhyme or theme, like the time I walked out with 5 plush snowmen to accompany the "Five Little Snowmen" song, or a bag of rubber frog bath toys before Passover to use for sensory play and paint printing.

But for playthings in general, I usually shop the other aisles, especially when it comes to dramatic play. Kids like "real" things and on a low budget, a dollar is usually a good price for a real thing that will be in children's hands. This includes items like:

• dishes
• silverware
• baking pans
• cooking utensils and accessories (measuring cups, spoons, colanders, serving ware, tongs, salt/pepper shakers, muffin liners, etc.)
• linens like towels, potholders, cloth napkins/tablecloths, placemats
• artificial flowers and vases
• candlesticks and LED candles
• cleaning accessories like sponges, dustpans/dust brushes, scrub brushes, spray bottles, squeegees, large buckets
• baby accessories to use with dolls like dishes/spoons, diapers, washcloths, receiving blankets, bottles, bibs
• actual tools for play or woodwork like screw drivers, hammers, nails/screws, large paint brushes and rollers, tool boxes, safety goggles, work gloves, bungee cords/twine, zipties, etc. Also consider automotive accessories here like funnels, rags, and other items that could be used for building or mechanic themed dramatic play or even sensory play (a subject I'll touch on further down).
• tote bags and purses, paper gift bags for dramatic play or shopping
• shopping lists
• flash lights
• receipt books, order form pads
• open/closed signs
• garage sale stickers
• calculators
• magnifying glasses
•  gardening gloves
• badge clips for role playing
• plastic cups in a variety of sizes (like Solo cups) can be used for building, loose parts play and dramatic play, also consider hot cups with lids--a favorite for making "pretend coffee"
• plastic eggs can be found in the Spring
• artificial fruits (on the floral aisle) 
• artificial leaves and pumpkins (particularly in the Fall)
• fairy garden accessories for small world play (especially in the spring/summer and sometimes before the winter holidays there are small props like this)
• glass gems, wood circles, rocks, stones, gravel, moss, shells, and more can be found in the art and floral supplies section and are great for small world play and loose parts play
• envelopes, greeting cards or invitation sets for post office or party dramatic play--you can even laminate cards so they can be used with dry erase markers over and over again
• scarves, hats, gloves/mittens, sunglasses, reading glasses with lenses popped out for dress-up
• toothbrushes, bandaids, Q-tips, medical tape and similar accessories for doctor/veterinarian play
• Mirrors, combs/brushes, costume jewelry and hair accessories for dramatic play
• party supplies like hats, blowers, paper-ware and tablecloths, number candles/birthday candles, gift bags/boxes and wrapping paper for birthday/party themed play
• baskets especially in the spring are great for carrying a picnic or shopping

Containers for Set up and Storage:

The dollar store is a GREAT place to stock up on storage and display options, both for times you are using materials and the times you are storing them away between use. Consider the following:

• plastic baskets and crates in all sizes, even laundry baskets
• buckets/pales (you can check year round on the cleaning supplies aisle and automotive/hardware aisle, and also around Easter/gardening season to stock up)
• bowls in a variety of sizes, especially serving bowls (found with party supplies)
• glassware like jars, vases, bowls, salt/pepper shakers (great for use with sand or glitter for art projects), dessert/shot glasses
• plastic containers, jars and bottles--you can find take n'toss tupperware sets and similar items in the kitchen/grocery sections and also in home care sections with cleaning supplies, bathroom/hygiene accessories (think travel bottles, spray bottles), with office and art supplies, even the baby supply aisle
• trays--especially "disposable" ones with party supplies (and I do not dispose of these so quickly). I love the silver mirror trays in a variety of shapes as well as the sectioned chip and dip trays. I have also found plastic trays with dishes/kitchen ware (like sectioned plates) and with school/office supplies. Metal baking sheets on the cooking supplies aisle work great as trays and are magnetic so they can be used with magnets and magnetiles as well.
• Every so often there is an influx at the Dollar Tree of colorful plastic storage items including matching sets of trays, bins, crates, baskets, containers and more.
• Canvas crates in a variety of sizes (the kind that are sold folded up and you just pop them open and place the cardboard insert at the bottom)
• 2 gallon ziplock bags--these are great for storage of sensory bin filler and standard sized paper items
• check the party supplies, baby and bridal shower sections and seasonal displays for unique containers, tins, boxes, trays, etc.
• consider using pretty mugs, bowls and other dishes for display of materials and supplies
  
  
• file folders
• pencil pouches
• sectioned plastic caddies
• photo frames for displaying art and/or signs
• pencil cups and similar office accessories
• plastic sheet protectors, report covers and similar items for storage and/or display of paperwork and art
• plastic shoe boxes with lids
• plastic basins frequently used for washing dishes are great for sensory play
• file sorters are great for propping up/setting up books or even paper in your art center
• pots and planters in the spring/summer are great for storage and setup
• large storage bags (the kind you vacuum to suck out the air and store under a bed) can also be found here and used for storage of dress-up clothes/linens
• cups and small pales/containers for parties can also be used for storage and display or small items, especially art supplies and/or loose parts
• pill containers for storage of small loose parts
• small containers and sectioned containers with lids can be found with art supplies and also kitchen supplies and used for small art materials and loose parts
• tin containers with lids (both with and without a window to see in) are often available with office supplies. They are magnetic and very useful for storing and/or displaying small loose parts, craft supplies or objects found in nature. They are also good for storing and transporting some clay, playdough or other similar medium for use on the go!

Science and Sensory Play:

Think both inside and outside of the bin here--and even the bin itself!

• metal cookie sheets, muffin tins and baking pans
• plastic basins (often used for washing dishes) make a great little sensory bin
• large plastic serving bowls are great for mixing up slime and other sensory play materials and also as a small sensory bin
• plastic shoe boxes with lids are awesome for a mobile sensory bin or even just to be able to close up shop when you don't want it open!
• scoops in all sizes, especially with party supplies and kitchen supplies
• measuring cups and spoons
• containers with lids in all sizes
• for light play and play at the light table, consider glow sticks, colorful translucent items like cups and other party favors, flash lights, night lights, colored light bulbs
• plastic ramekins and other small bowls/containers without lids
• tongs, can be found with party supplies and kitchen wares
• large spoons and similar cooking/serving utensils
• funnels (with kitchen supplies and also automotive/hardware)
• safety goggles for science
• Gardening supplies including shovels/tools, gloves, pots, soil, seeds, watering cans, etc. I generally opt for the "real" gardening tools here and not the plastic toy sets. Those can be fun as well and are often a good size for little hands, but keep in mind that they will likely only last one year. 
• Plastic test tubes can sometimes be found with teaching/office supplies
  
• salt/pepper shakers, empty condiment/squeeze bottles
• ice cube trays (these can also be great with art supplies and small loose parts)
• bubbles solution, bubble accessories--think outside the standard plastic toys here, like colanders, potato mashers and metal mesh sieves sold on the kitchen ware aisle work GREAT for blowing bubbles
• Sand play accessories are also abundant in the spring/summer--keep in mind that plastic ones will probably have a short shelf life
• Metal forks, combs, butter knives, and cookie cutters are great for use with playdough, clay and even paint
• spray bottles

bug kits, magnifying glasses and butterfly nets all come out in the early spring and are fun to use outdoors--they may not last particularly long, although I have found that the magnifying glasses available with office supplies do hold up to long term use

Now let's talk sensory bin fillers:

• bubble solution can be purchased at the dollar store, so can ingredients to make your own (like dish soap, sugar, etc.)
• play dough both name brand and off label brands can be found, so can ingredients to make your own (including flour, salt, oil, food coloring--haven't found cream of tartar yet, though)
• spices like cinnamon for adding in to playdough or paints, grinding with a mortar and pestle
• baking soda and vinegar!
• bird seed
• flour
• pasta
• dried beans
• rice
• oats
• salt or sugar for sand/writing trays
• paper shreds, artificial grass, tinsel
• crepe paper (great for tearing/cutting into smaller pieces for a sensory bin)
• confetti/glitter and even sprinkles make great playdough add-ins and sensory bin/sand tray filler
• colored sand can be found on the floral/art supplies aisle
• small loose parts like stones/rocks, sea shells, glass gems, wood circles, gravel, pebbles can be found with art/floral supplies
• tissue paper, bubble wrap, gift wraps also are great when cut/torn up for sensory bin play
• potting soil
• cotton balls and pompoms
• water beads--I have found these on the floral design aisle and sometimes with toys, sold in a small science kit
• add ins like small toy animals, artificial leaves, snowflakes, flowers, small figurines, etc.--just keep in mind if you are using something with wet ingredients if it will be waterproof--also check the party favor section for things like this

Art, Office and Teaching Supplies:
When it comes to art supplies, some things are worth paying full price for a name brand. Others can be found at the dollar store and some are not even on the art or office supplies aisle:

• crayons and markers: with these, I prefer a name brand like Crayola so keep your eyes open because they do show up on the shelves!
• pencils, colored pencils and pencil sharpeners
• pens, highlighters and the like can be found, quality varies
• mini erasers--these are great for more than just erasing!
• I would not generally buy paints here, but when it comes to painting, brushes--especially large ones from the hardware section, are great
• other types of "paint brushes" include sponges, cookie cutters for stamping, combs/forks, Q-tips, toothbrushes
• I do not recommend most of the Lego/mega block type sets for building along with your name brand sets, but they are great for use with paint/printing, building a paint tower to pour and drip over, use with playdough, etc.
• twine, string, sometimes yarn, ribbon, raffia
• floral wire
• floral tape
• floral foam/Styrofoam
• food coloring
• white wrapping paper/craft paper for large murals, easel work, etc.
• clear contact paper
• school glue--doesn't have to be "name brand"
• low temp glue gun sticks--I have never purchased a glue gun from the dollar store although I have seen them, so I can't vouch for those, but the inserts work just fine with mine
• keep your eyes open (usually at the bottom of the shelf) for tacky glue (brand name) and mod podge (brand name)
• tape--especially scotch tape with a plastic dispenser is a very economical way to feed kids' tape addiction--but also consider masking tape, painters tape, duct tape (that latter two are usually on the hardware aisle), and washi/decorative tapes
• glass jars, vases, dessert glasses are great for using with painting and art activities--whether it's to hold paints, water for rinsing brushes or small loose parts/craft supplies
• paper--including construction paper, doodle paper, writing paper, lined paper, graph paper, tracing paper, photo paper (has a cool glossy finish)--I've occassionally also seen small watercolor pads, canvases, fingerpainting paper
• tissue paper, crepe paper, gift wraps, ribbon and bows--check the party supplies AND art/office supplies for these
• patterned scrap booking paper
• stickers!
• glue sticks: I do recommend the large playschool triangular ones, I do not recommend the multi-packs of off brand ones, though if you happen to see Elmer's show up, grab 'em and go
• serving trays and sectioned trays are great for using with paint, clay, playdough or even just to cover your space/display materials
• ice cube trays are also great for setting out multiple paint colors
• actual paint trays can be found with art supplies quite regularly
• small loose parts and art supplies like glitter, confetti, sequins, beads, pom poms, pipe cleaners,wooden craft sticks in a variety of sizes and colors, wooden shapes, foam stickers, foam sheets, buttons, felt
• chalk--sidewalk and regular (with office supplies)
• notebooks, note pads, sticky notes in all sizes and colors--these can be found year round and close to the back to school season even more
• binders, pencil pouches, folders--especially abundant in the late summer/early fall
• I do not recommend off brand permanent markers but Sharpies can sometimes be found and are great
• scissors: I think dollar store scissors are fine! I like the playschool beginner scissors sold that have a plastic lever you can set to make them easier for new cutters. I also like the child sized sets that show up for the back to school season (plastic handles and metal tips). You may still want to invest in a pair of higher quality scissors when they go on sale after the fall, but these will do you just fine for indoor use and outside (clipping flowers, grass, etc.)
• artificial flowers, foliage, snowflakes and other seasonal loose parts for art use
• calendars are great for their intended use and at $1 a pop, they are also great for the pictures and photos inside--especially ones with animals, nature scenes, birds/wildlife, flowers, etc.
• teaching supplies are sold near office supplies at the Dollar Tree and you can find some great stickers, sentence strips, pocket charts, posters, and learning resources/materials that are great for home and classroom use
• plastic pouches in standard paper size are a great tool for making signs/worksheets reusable with dry erase markers--sheet protectors can also work well for this
• I have bought dry erase markers at the dollar store and they do not tend to last as long as name brand ones (like Expo), but they are a good option if you don't want to offer expensive ones to kids and sometimes you can find Expo brand as well
• paperclips, magnets (especially sets of magnetic clips), push pins, rulers, rubber bands, staples and other such office supplies are a safe bet here
• colored sand (by floral design)
• vinyl place mats make GREAT art mats--I buy about half a dozen and use them for at least a couple of years at a time before replacing them--they can be washed between use and this makes a great activity for kids in a soapy sensory bin
• plastic/disposable table cloths and shower curtains are also a great surface cover for art projects--I generally prefer something that's reusable and the shower curtains do last longer than one use, but sometimes you need the option to gather up your table top contents and toss it all away, and that's where this one comes in
• metal cookie sheets also make a good surface cover for messy art work
• child sized aprons can frequently be found and are great smocks--also keep your eyes open for large t-shirts, also great for smocks (or for fabric painting)
• white paper plates
• brown lunch bags
• colored paper plates can also be used art projects (black ones make some great wheels on a recycled box car!)
• sewing kits and notions
• I prefer to use recycled trays for paint, but when you want a disposable option you can find Styrofoam trays with the paper ware. You can also find paper cups in a variety of sizes (good for glue, paint, small loose parts and even paint stamping
• metal silverware including forks, spoons and knives are useful for art activities like playdough/clay, mixing paints and glues, painting and more
• disposable condiment containers are great for sending home a paint or glue concoction or storing prepared paints between use
• socks for sock puppets--you can get multi packs of white socks and they are perfect for puppets, dolls, snowmen and indoor "snowball" fights
• photo frames in a variety of sizes are great for displaying artwork and can also be "deconstructed" with the glass and back removed for loose parts art
• I have on occasion seen framed mirrors with the photo frames and these are great for loose parts play on a mirrored surface--plastic mirror trays also work well for this

*There are a lot of arts & crafts kits and even science kits sold at the Dollar Tree. Some of these are great, some not so great. I like grabbing a few activity sets or craft kits when we have a long trip or a birthday celebration. 

Miscellaneous:

Here's the stuff that really has no category of its own...

• hooks with an adhesive back
• rain gauges and outdoor thermometers are a great addition to your outdoor classroom and are available most years in the spring
• zip ties and shower curtain hooks are unusually useful for hanging things up outdoors and sometimes even indoors
• clothes pins, also unusually useful for hanging up art work from a garland, fastening dress up clothes, fine motor activities, making your own paint brushes, as a unique loose part, and, in a pinch, sealing an open bag of chips--also, you might want to grab some bag clips while you're at it
• balloons, both the kind you blow up yourself and Mylar
• foil pans with cardboard lids--I end up using these for the most random things! From dramatic play pie sets to wheels on a recycled materials robot to, well, actually storing and cooking food....
• tin foil is something I swing full price on when I use it in my kitchen, but when I am using it for art or dramatic play or otherwise with my kids, the dollar store is where I go
• microfiber cloths are great for erasing chalkboards, cleaning tasks and sometimes even in dramatic play
• scented candles for those who have aromatherapy commitment issues, like I do--same for nail polish and color commitment issues!

So there you have it, my oddly compiled and ever incomplete list of recommended dollar store finds! It should be noted that if you go and purchase everything on this list at one time, it will add up to far more than $1! And now I am really questioning how much of my own $$$ has gone toward Dollar Tree stock! However, you'll also notice many of these items cross over from one use to another. And particularly with items that are reusable (which is a decent portion here), you won't be buying things again and again. Especially if you store them and remember where you stored them...ummmm, about that... 

*I am still, in no way, actually affiliated with Dollar Tree stores or franchise* ;)

I'll be back with a list of suggested thrift shop finds and until then...

Happy Playing!

Mad Science Monday: Volcano Fizzy Science

If the idea of something 'sploding on a Monday morning gets you all warm and fizzy, then this Mad Science Monday post is for you! Whether you are at home with your kids, in a classroom setting or looking for a great take-along for your next outdoor adventure, baking soda and vinegar never disappoint. In fact, last Monday, we took our show on the road at my nature-based play group and held a pop-up laboratory for children of all ages at a local park and sprayground. When it comes to teaching children about science, I often tell parents and educators that you don't need to really teach at all; children are inherently scientific in the way they wonder, discover, observe and explore. Allowing space and time for this to occur naturally is just the fuel that is needed to ignite a lifelong love of learning and to develop the skills necessary for critical thinking.




That being said, a directed experiment or even a set up to explore materials (like those found in nature, or chemical reactions between baking soda and vinegar) can be a great way to bring a little science into your child's life. After a couple of hours of fizzy fun at the park, many children went home slightly colorful from food coloring and begging for more. S was especially interested in making a volcano after seeing a version of this experiment depicted in a Starwars activity book we checked out of the library and after visiting an exhibit on Pompeii at our local science museum with his Poppa last month. Both boys dug right into our blob of potter's clay to build our volcanic mountain. You can also use playdough or even build your mountain from paper mache. It would be really cool to build your mountain outdoors using mud or sand. Since clay was what we had on hand today, it's what we used. The boys smoothed the sides, and pressed a large dent deeper and deeper into the center. I helped pinch up the edges until we were happy with the shape of our mountain. I poured a bit of baking soda into the bottom.

It was time for our eruption to begin! I set out some safety goggles and Y chose to wear his lab coat as well. S discovered he has a unique talent for getting baking soda and vinegar into his eyes last week, so safety goggles are not a bad idea here! We found these at our dollar tree in the hardware/auto care aisle. I filled a couple of empty condiment bottles with vinegar dyed orange with food coloring. I also filled a small container and added a couple of pipettes. The boys got busy with the squeeze bottles first, watching it bubble higher and higher in the volcano until our lava ran right over top!

I can tell you, I've done this experiment many times in my life and it's still fun and exciting! Baking soda and vinegar are inexpensive, easy to obtain and I often call it "self-cleaning" science--it does have a tendency to bubble over, but it likely won't damage your surfaces or clothing. We used a clear plastic file bin to contain the science residue and you can also opt to take this outdoors if the thought of an indoor explosion seems over the top.

 Happy Playing!

This experiment is great for a rainy day. It's a sure to impress an audience if you need an activity for a playgroup, classroom or birthday party. It's budget friendly and pretty fail proof. And the best part? You can do fizzy science again and again and again and it's still fun every time! S and Y have both already requested more fizzy science experiments next Monday--so we'll be back with more! Until then...

A Peek Inside Our Playroom: Space Station Dramatic Play

There's no place like outer space! I think S and Y could both count backwards from 10 to 1 and blast off before they ever learned to count forwards. Stars, planets, astronauts and space ships are a beloved theme for kids of all ages. We've just finished off a major heat wave here and I am glad to see it go. Today's temps are 30 degrees cooler than yesterday's high and it's been steadily raining on my dehydrated garden all day. But knowing that today was going to be a soggy day and yet another in a row of days we couldn't be outside for long, I wanted to have something fun to occupy everyone.
We've still been having fun here in our Build-a-Car Auto Shop and I'm not quite ready to tear it down and do a complete revamp. And with the materials and tools we already had set out, a little tweaking to the type of transportation in mind and a few additions, turning our living room into a NASA Space Station Dramatic Play Center was the perfect next step in our Sprout Scouts play adventures. We've explored space themed activities here before and we even attended a Rocket Day event at one of our local library branches earlier in the summer. Dramatic play is a favorite way to engage in learning about nearly any topic in our house and when it comes to getting that set up and organized, I love the Space Theme Dramatic Play set by Pocket of Preschool.

Outer space is a theme that is as vast and expansive as, well, outer space! You could get really into setting up a play area and learning activities with this theme or you could keep it simple and engage the help of your young astronauts in training, as I did. I did spend a bit of time in the evening yesterday gathering my printed materials, making some jet packs from recycled water jugs, duct tape and ribbon, preparing our control panel and setting out some large paper and art supplies to make a Space Station sign for Morning Work.

The boys began the day by adding stickers, rocket ships and coloring a sign for the front of our Space Station. Next, it was time to set up our space shuttle. We used our puppet theater and a couple of chairs. You could also make the front of your space station with a tri-fold presentation board and old car seats as Pocket of Preschool did in her classroom. I really love the idea of involving the boys in setting up our dramatic play adventures as much as possible. For one thing, I need the help! It also gives them ownership of their play and learning experience while engaging their focus a lot better than when I set everything up in advance.





Setting up very little this time was partially intentional and partially because I didn't exactly have everything prepared when I decided to do this at the last minute yesterday. And what I learned yet again today is just how OK that is! Even in a classroom setting, it is OK to gradually implement a new play theme and to take a little help from your little friends.

Y and S both helped make some telescopes for viewing and observing different planets out of recycled cardboard tubes, duct tape and washi tape. Incidentally, Y's telescope also functions as a trumpet...


Both boys love the jet packs. I don't always make or have enough of our props and materials for each child to have his/her own, but in this case I am glad I saved 4 empty water jugs so we'd have one for S and Y. And since they are made predominantly from recycled materials and the rest from supplies we already had, this was a very budget friendly play theme to set up. I also recycled the cardboard backing from a large easel pad to make our control panel. I covered it in tinfoil and glued on images from the printed set. Alternatively you could also use stickers and create your own buttons and images from printed pictures, construction paper, draw with permanent marker or even glue on recycled bottle caps.

S asked for help to read the names of planets and every time we choose a destination, he "presses" that "button" first. Then both boys count back from 10 and blast off! Next they disembark from their space shuttle, put on their jet packs (with a little help as needed) and go exploring! We make up different things we see on each planet before getting back into the ship and heading back toward Earth.

Donning his jet pack...

S is moving around in a "bouncy" way because there is no gravity here on the moon!

Ready for takeoff!

Instead of having everything out and ready to go where our playroom was a means to an end, this is simply the beginning! We have a lot of exploring to do. S has already asked to make some astronaut costumes. We've decided we want to make some planets and decorations for our space station to make it look more like the solar system. Both S and Y want to know more about the planets and space, so we headed to the library to gather some books. Stay tuned for more play activities that are simply out of this world, and until then...

Happy Playing!

Get Outside And... Blow Billions of Bubbles!

Bubbles are so much fun! My first word as a baby was "bubbles." S has always loved them. Y had a long period of babyhood when he couldn't actually see bubbles and I often wondered why he just didn't seem that into them. Well sure enough, a few months after he got glasses and we were in playgroup at bubble time, he saw bubbles for the first time. I almost cried watching him giggle and squeal as he tried to catch, eat and pop bubbles floating all around him.

We go through a lot of bubble solution here. Last summer, I kept a jug with a spigot full and ready on our front steps so the boys could fill a dish and blow bubbles whenever we were outside playing. I've even been known to zip-tie those colorful plastic tubes of bubbles right onto our railing outside! But bubbles and the plastic wands and accessories used with them have a pretty limited shelf life and usually only last us through the spring/summer season before needing to be replaced. It's super easy to make your own bubbles, though and even your own bubble blowers and wands! You probably even have most of what you need in your cupboard and recycling bin...

We made our bubble solution with:

• 4 cups warm water
• 1 cup dish soap
• 2 TBSP glycerin

We store it in a glass jar and any container with a tightly sealing lid will work. To use, you can pour the desired amount into a shallow bin, pan or dish, or even just dip your wand right into the jar.

The boys even made their own bubble wands using pipe cleaners and beads. I didn't quite get a picture of those, but they (with some help from me) twisted the pipe cleaner to form a larger circle at the top, strung on some beads and twisted a smaller circle at the bottom. This seals the beads in and creates a double ended bubble wand. Simply dip your wand and blow! The pipe cleaners do get rather wet and soapy and don't work as well once they get to that point of total saturation. Alternatively you could use floral wire and that would probably work a bit better--but we had fun nonetheless.

I also helped the boys to assemble some simple cup and straw bubble blowers that overflow giant bubbles from the top and recycled bottle bubble blowers that shoot out long bubble snakes from the bottom:

The plastic cup & straw bubble blowers are easily assembled by poking a hole toward the bottom (about an inch and half to two inches up) of a disposable plastic cup. (An adult should do this part.) Stick a straw inside and tilt it to the bottom of the cup. Fill with a bit of bubble solution and blow! It's kind of like when you blow bubbles in your chocolate milk only without the getting in trouble part. I would, however, support and supervise little ones not to drink from the straw by mistake. S got this message easily. Y had to learn the hard way, poor little guy. He helped blow big bubble sculptures off the top of the cup after that!

To assemble some recycled bottle bubble blowers, cut the bottom off an empty plastic bottle. (An adult should do this part.) Use a washcloth and rubber band to cover the open end. Dip the towel end into your bubble solution and blow through the top of the bottle. Now check out the bottom as a long bubbly snake grows and grows from the towel! You can try this one in the bathtub as well, just getting the washcloth soapy before you affix it to the plastic bottle.

The bubble blowing led to a lot of bubbly play! The boys loved scooping up piles of bubbles from the bottom of the bottle or top of the cup and flinging, blowing and chasing them around. Even our garden turtle enjoyed a little bubble bath...

Making our own bubble solution and blowers saved us a lot of shlepping, time and money. 

And speaking of saving time... if a couple of little boys happened to play in some soapy bubbly mud and mulch after all that, it counts as a bath as well, right? 

I am, of course, asking for a friend...a very close friend...

Happy Playing!

Parent Playtime Post: Quick Knit All-Purpose Cotton Cloths

This is the perfect quick knit project if ever there was one. I created the pattern late in the summer because I wanted transition from using paper napkins to cloth ones in S's school lunchbox. Standard cloth napkins are way too big for the school setting and the standard size of kid tables. I wanted something small and friendly to kid sized hands, mouths and spills. I also thought it would give him a little feeling of home during his school day to find something handknit by his Mommy at lunchtime. I knew I ran the risk of him accidentally losing some or throwing them away (so far the damage hasn't been too bad). I was not too surprised either, to see that he is so environmentally conscious he still only uses his sleeve to wipe his mouth and that most of the time, these little guys come home still neatly folded in half in a triangle shape right in the bottom of his lunchbox! Nonetheless, I often use them with a spritz of my easy homemade all-purpose cleaner (about 1 part rubbing alcohol to 10 parts water) to clean out the inside of his lunchbox each day and subsequently the dairy side counter-top after I prepare and pack his lunch for the next day. They even do well with warm soapy water to scrub out midweek yogurt spills when you don't have time to run the washing machine and still have a dry Paw Patrol lunchbox in the morning!

Yes, these Quick Knit All-Purpose Cotton Cloths have and do it all. They are great little napkins. They have a fabulous scrubbing action from the texture of the garter stitch. They are thick enough to soak up spills and soft enough to wipe tiny little hands and mouths on the go. They make a great travel wipe as well with a bit of soapy spray or water. Use them as washcloths, dishcloths, for cleaning or even dusting. And the best part is how quick and easily they knit up. I keep a ball of cotton yarn and size 7 needles in my cars for long trips when I'm a passenger or unplanned waits at the doctor or when I arrive too early for preschool pickup (which rarely happens these days). Because they are so quick and easy (and cost effective) to knit up, it's easy to stitch up an abundance of these little buggers. They make great gifts, have plenty of household uses and you won't feel [too] bad if a few get lost in the hustle.

In fact, a note on all handcrafted items you gift to your kids: they may get lost. They may get damaged. They may get rejected one day and beloved the next. If you are the type to become really attached to something you created (I am), this might be an exercise in breathing deeply and letting go. Opting to send your little guy to school in the first ever sweater you knit might not be a good starting point. Opting to stash a cotton cloth in his lunchbox is probably a safer bet!

So if you'd like to whip up one or two or six dozen of your own Quick Knit All-Purpose Cotton Cloths, here's what you'll need to know:

Materials:

• 1 skein 100% cotton yarn
• This will make multiple cloths. Common brands are Lily Sugar and Cream or Walmart's comparable item, Peaches and Cream yarn. They come in a variety of solid and variegated color options, even self striping. There are often sales and coupons available for craft supply stores on these products. You can go with all one color or collect a few. I may have collected more than a few, but I use this yarn for a variety of projects. 
• size 7/4.5mm straight knitting needles
• I really prefer the feel of bamboo, but any straight needles will work
• yarn needle & scissors for finishing

Directions: You will be working this project diagonally. The y/o at the beginning of each row will leave a little hole that creates the outer border pattern.

abbreviations: 

K= knit

y/o= yarn over

inc. = increase

dec. = decrease

K2tog = knit 2 together

st = stitch

Begin by casting on 4 stitches.

Increase rows:

Row 1: Knit across

Row 2: K2, y/o to inc. by 1 st, K to end of row. You should now have 5 stitches.

Repeat Row 2 until you have a total of 25 stitches. You will now begin your decrease rows.

Decrease rows:

Row 1: K1, K2tog, y/o, K2tog, K to end of row. You should now have 24 stitches. Your y/o will preserve your border pattern, while knitting 2 together both before and afterward will decrease your stitches by one each row you work. 

Repeat that row until you have 4 stitches remaining.

Knit across row.

Bind off.

Weave in and trim tails.

Fostering a Sense of Sustainability in our Children: A Tribute to Tu b'Shevat

I can remember a babysitting job I took in my early college days for a family living next door to my college campus. They were a lovely young family in a small suburban home with a comparatively huge edible garden in their yard. They had a preschool aged son and twin one year old boys at the time. They ate a vegan diet, cloth diapered, primarily cycled for transportation and I truly felt at ease in their home. Until the first massive spill occurred. I asked the preschool aged child where the paper towels were. He did not even know what paper  towels were. After some time describing the mysterious product of a towel you use only once and then throw away, he directed me to a drawer of rags for cleaning. Who knew?

Fast forward a few more years, and you could find a slightly older quite idealistic version of me perusing the aisles of locally owned co-ops, thrift stores and farmer's markets on my very limited budget and toting my most recent library checkout, Sleeping Naked is Green: How an Eco-Cynic Unplugged Her Fridge, Sold Her Car and Found Love in 366 Days by Vanessa Farquharson in a reusable canvas bag. I was going to take the plunge. I was going to live a sustainable lifestyle on a barely sustainable college student budget. I was going to compost in a coffee can. I was going to go paperless. I was going to go green. I was going to have the sinus infection of a lifetime and only some makeshift snot rags from an old bed sheet on hand. And a washer and dryer that required quarters to operate. In another building. Around the block. Not my most sustainable sustainability plan ever...

You know you might be a bit crunchy when you ask
for a compost pail for Mother's Day...

I caved. I bought a box of tissues. Not even recycled, unbleached tissues. I bought Puffs Plus with Lotion. A nose in need deserves Puffs indeed. And I accepted that my version of living a sustainable life needed, like all other areas of my life, to be balanced. This meant that at different points in my life, I focused on different ways of living with less waste. Sometimes that meant shopping secondhand or using cloth napkins or bringing my own bags to the supermarket. Sometimes that meant purging nearly all my worldly possessions to thrift stores, emergency service agencies and individuals in need and moving cross country with only 15 boxes, 3 carry-ons and bicycle I had used as my sole method of transportation for the last 9 years. But not all of this was because I love the trees. Much of it was because I was a college student on a fixed budget living on her own 3000 miles away from any family who needed to get around and didn't drive. I also didn't always live with "less." My affinity toward thrift store shopping and many other creative interests led me to acquire quite a lot and the act of purging nearly all of it was actually quite challenging and cathartic at the same time.

Life stages shift and focuses shift along with them. I got married and moved again and early on in our marriage when I was newly pregnant with S and super tired, I can remember lying in bed wistfully daydreaming of my former thrift store shopping days and sandals with socks and bicycle treks to farmers' markets with canvas totes in tow. I was so nostalgic for these days and so hormonal that my husband, not really knowing what else to do, took me to a local secondhand shop and we bought about 5 mismatched cloth napkins. He must have thought I was absolutely insane, but these napkins brought me so much joy! They were a piece of me I had left behind, seemingly inconsequential, but a piece of me, nonetheless. And I knew at that point, though not necessarily in what context, that fostering a sense of sustainability in our own growing family was something I valued.

The boys carry snacks to school or outings in reusable canvas pouches they decorated or simple sewn drawstring bags I made from scraps of a favorite fabric.

We buy most of our cloth napkins secondhand. When
they get too stained and worn out, I don't feel badly finally
sending them on their way; they've lived a full life! Once
in a great while, I'll splurge on a unique one from a gift
shop as a souvenir from a family trip. We usually each use one
a day and then it gets tossed in a wash. A far cry from the endless
number of paper napkins we used to go through here...

At that time, I had images of cloth diapering among other ideals that didn't play out. As I had already discovered, living a sustainable lifestyle also means living in balance with what is practical for your family at the time. Over the last five years, we've ditched paper napkins in favor of cloth ones. We have paper towels (and we swing for the more expensive ones because you can use less at a time). We also have an assortment of cloth towels and rags. I travel with disposable wipes and diapers but also with an old makeup bag filled with some handmade cloths and a gentle soap spray I made from diluted castile soap for wiping everything from dirty hands to peanut butter covered faces on the go. S brings his snack to school in reusable bags, carries a hand knit napkin in his lunch and reusable containers and flatware for the most part. With two kids, we do dishes a load of laundry daily anyway. But we were spending exorbitant amounts on paper and plastic products before introducing the reusable options. I wear socks with my sandals again because how else will people ever see my really cool socks? We joined a CSA and in the warmer months we get a box of locally grown produce biweekly. In the winter, we realized we weren't using it as much and reduced our subscription to every three weeks. We have a sedan and a minivan. I have a tiny compost pail under the sink for some of our waste but our trash can is about 4 times that size and we empty it daily. We don't have curbside recycling here, but we do have some bins at a local grocery store and, um, two bags full of items I have yet to take there. Nonetheless, the kids love to scrounge through it for treasures and also help to contribute to it.

I remember being quite disheartened to find out years ago when my husband was working at a reputable liberal arts college that both the recycling and garbage bins in his office were emptied each morning into the same plastic trash bag by campus staff. I don't fool myself into believing that the small things we do in our home or daily lives make such a huge and enormous difference in the grand disposable scheme of things. But I do value modeling and imparting a mentality of balanced and practical sustainability for my children.

My students were fascinated by this "magic" tree
made from recycled newspaper!

I also remember early in my teaching career how frustrated I felt when the students would mistreat materials and supplies. Caps left off markers were perhaps one of my greatest pet peeves. I even did the classic old school teacher move of "revoking their marker privileges" until they could demonstrate care and responsibility for their materials and earn the privilege of coloring with markers back! Now I cringe at this display of arrogance. Fast forward to my own children, and I still kind of initially balk when one of them breaks a toy or damages something and S will respond with "let's get another one at the store." I cringe a little when I scrape large quantities of the food they were previously starving for into the trash can. I recoil a little when the faucet is left running in the bathroom sink. Don't these kids have any reverence for our planet and our shared responsibility in caring for it? Don't they have any idea that toys cost money? Or that the mini cucumber I'm throwing away was truly a miracle that emerged from one tiny seed and a comparatively enormous amount of labor, toil and love? And the answer to those questions is no. They don't know that. They are 21 months and 4 years old and up until now, everything has just shown up here. Their toys, their dinner, their markers and even the bathroom sink. They don't see my husband in his office each day and what he does to earn the money that pays the bills. They just see him leave in the morning and come home at night. They don't see the farmers in the fields or the truck drivers delivering produce to the stores or the night shift workers stocking the shelves. We just go to Walmart and pick what we want to buy and pay for it. They don't see the water cycle and the affect it has on everything from the fish in the sea to the cucumber on their dinner plate. They just see that when the faucet is turned on, the water comes out and if you add enough soap, it makes a lot of bubbles. And bubbles are fun.

I keep a stock of lower quality washcloths (the kind you buy in a huge pack at Walmart) for wiping spills, dirty hands, dirty faces, messy art projects, household cleaning, wiping tabletops and counter tops and whatever other needs may arise. A large stack is ready in our kitchen above the laundry machines and a smaller stack is kept in a drawer where the boys can access them as needed to clean up their own spills and messes. S is able to reach to put them in the laundry area when he's done. Once they get particularly worn or stained, they get downgraded to rag status or cut and re-purposed for smaller rags/wipes. 

So years ago, after a marker cap rampage right around the time of Tu b'Shevat, I decided to use the holiday as a backdrop for teaching about sustainability and being resourceful rather than wasteful. I bought a recycling bin for my classroom and children came to school with dumbfounded parents who wanted to know why they were dumpster diving for contributions. We would have recycled art days here and there throughout the year when it was time to empty the recycling. (I can imagine those parents were equally dumbfounded when the plastic apple container from Costco came back home covered in tape, google eyes and pipe cleaners.) And I involve my own children in recycling, reusing, growing some of our own food and picking out cloth napkins at the thrift store. They can reach a tissue for their nose and they can reach a rag from the drawer. We shop for most of our groceries at Walmart, but we also take the boys to the thrift store when we go or the farmer's market, food co-op and garden center in season.

As we play with our collection of wooden loose parts, we talk about the gifts we get from trees--and also that these gifts are given to the detriment and demise of that tree. It's not that I want my children (or my students) to feel guilty using a sheet of paper or building with wooden blocks. It's that I want them to experience the true joy of gratitude in it and the sense of wonder that a pencil, a tissue, a piece of paper and a cardboard tube all came from a tree. And so did the door on our pantry and the popsicle stick on our dessert and the apple in our lunchbox, not to mention the great place for climbing, the special spot for sitting in the shade and the fresh sweet air we breathe on our Shabbos afternoon walk.

I sew and knit rags and towels in a variety of sizes for a variety of uses. Flannel and terrycloth backed "wipes" are perfect for traveling in my purse and are a great way to re-purpose bits of worn out towels, pajamas, baby blankets and such that are sentimental or not entirely ready to be tossed out altogether. S brings a knit napkin in his lunch box each day and even though I know for a fact he is so eco-friendly he only uses his shirt sleeve, I like to think that this little bit of handmade Mommy love reminds him of home while he eats his lunch. It's also nice to have small, quick projects for working on the go.

And so this is not a post preaching that you should don a pair of printed socks and sandals (but you can if you want to, I won't judge). I won't tell anyone to adopt any of the habits I have or to ditch any others that you may have. I really do think it is about balance and about what works for your family at the time (knowing that these things change through the seasons and years). If some of these do resonate, go for it! If none of them do, keep scrolling! I am not going to unplug my fridge. I'm not going to sell our cars. I am not even going to ditch the tissues ever again because, um, going green just can't be that green in my world. And whether the recycled items I toss in the bins (if I ever actually do make it there) go into a trash bag or to the recycling center, I don't know. But I do know that a connection is made for my children when they help to sort them or even when they pull a cardboard tube from the stash to turn into a telescope. I know that bit by bit, they learn through my own modeling and their participating in this endeavor that the joy they have in blowing through a paper towel tube trumpet is from the same place as the joy they have when climbing the low, gnarly branches of the 100 year old mulberry tree at our botanical garden center. They will connect, too, the joy they feel in biting into a juicy strawberry with the joy they feel at seeing that first red berry emerge on their own strawberry plant in our yard.

It's the same joy I felt with those thrifted mismatched cloth napkins five years ago. The joy of living in a way that exudes the gratitude I feel for this immense level of interconnection. That everything from the bracha (blessing) I make on a glass of water to the way I wipe a spill that subsequently happens is all an opportunity to tap into that joy and feel as rooted as a 100 year old mulberry tree. So if you happen to see a minivan drive by with a bin of reusable grocery totes and spilled recyclables "on their way to the recycling bins" rolling around in the back, it might be me. If it also happens to be parked across no fewer than 3 spots about 7 miles away from any other cars in the lot and there's someone rather shadily walking toward the grocery store pushing a cart with two cuties and donning a pair of bumblebee knee socks and some sandals in January, it's definitely me.

Happy Playing!