This isn't especially crafty, but I thought I'd share. I stumbled on this idea a year or two ago on a homeschool site and thought it was brilliant, unfortunately, I didn't bookmark it or remember what they called these kits, so I can't go back and review their suggested kits. Maybe one of you wonderful MDCers will know what I'm referring to, or be willing to help me brainstorm.
To make one of these kits, you simply get a good sized box, label it with the theme or "role" it will represent, then fill it up with appropriate items. You could use Rubbermaid storage containers, I'm just getting a few discarded printer paper boxes from an office nearby. I plan to decorate my boxes according to the theme, like putting a Dutch oven door on the lid of my "kitchen" box and drawing on burners and knobs. What I love the best about these is that they aren't prefab and they're as open ended for the parent assembling them as they are for the child.
I'm in the process of making the following:
Kitchen Kit - I'm putting in the toy wooden knife and cutting board from a play food set, an apron my mother doesn't want (or two), oven mits, $1 store wooden spoon set, measuring cups, measuring spoons, bowl, some old enameled tin things from a family attic, and that's about all I have on hand so far.
Market Kit - A shopping basket, some playfood we already own, actual food and tea tins that are empty (some with new printed labels), bean bags labeled "sugar," "flour," "beans," and so on. Maybe some salt dough foods and/or felt biscuits. Monopoly money and purse. Any suggestions?
Costume Trunk - The costumes we've made them, old clothes and accessories from relatives attics, and play silks in an old suitcase we have.
I'd love advice to flesh these out, or suggestions on others, storage, etc. Above all, if any one happens to know the site or what these are formally called, I'd love to hear it!
To make one of these kits, you simply get a good sized box, label it with the theme or "role" it will represent, then fill it up with appropriate items. You could use Rubbermaid storage containers, I'm just getting a few discarded printer paper boxes from an office nearby. I plan to decorate my boxes according to the theme, like putting a Dutch oven door on the lid of my "kitchen" box and drawing on burners and knobs. What I love the best about these is that they aren't prefab and they're as open ended for the parent assembling them as they are for the child.
I'm in the process of making the following:
Kitchen Kit - I'm putting in the toy wooden knife and cutting board from a play food set, an apron my mother doesn't want (or two), oven mits, $1 store wooden spoon set, measuring cups, measuring spoons, bowl, some old enameled tin things from a family attic, and that's about all I have on hand so far.
Market Kit - A shopping basket, some playfood we already own, actual food and tea tins that are empty (some with new printed labels), bean bags labeled "sugar," "flour," "beans," and so on. Maybe some salt dough foods and/or felt biscuits. Monopoly money and purse. Any suggestions?
Costume Trunk - The costumes we've made them, old clothes and accessories from relatives attics, and play silks in an old suitcase we have.
I'd love advice to flesh these out, or suggestions on others, storage, etc. Above all, if any one happens to know the site or what these are formally called, I'd love to hear it!
