I’m always on the hunt for ideas for keeping the little fella amused. Many ideas that I come across are a wee bit old for him, but I bookmark them anyway for later. With so many bookmarked, I thought I would just have to share some!

I’m big a fan of simple toys and activities that enhance creativity rather than toys that do all the playing for kids (although toys that go beep and play music are good for an over-tired toddler at the end of the day, as an alternative to TV).

I also like toys that are frugal (and handmade toys are a bonus for mum’s creative outlet – if we have the time, that is). Some of the ideas below are quick and easy while others will take a little bit more time and effort on mum and dad’s part. Many of the sites have lots of other great ideas besides the post I’ve linked to, so have a meander through them.

Playdough is a winner in our house. Rather than cooking your playdough, an easy alternative is to use boiling water straight from the kettle and mix with a wooden spoon before kneading once is cools down enough to handle. I find a little goes a long way. I halve my recipe and then keep half in the cupboard for back up – it lasts for ages and less means less ‘in play’ means less ground into the carpet .

Finger paints @ Homemade mammas	Felt fishing game @ Just Another Day in Paradise	Felt car play mat / house @ Cook Clean Craft
Hanging tent @ Kojo Designs	Big picture scavenger hunt @ Pass the Cereal	Homemade highways @ Activities for Toddlers
Toy bags @ Zaaberry	Dolls house from drawers @ Nice Girl Notes	Super capes @ Serving Pink Lemonade
Magnetic quilting blocks @ Chalk in my pocket	Rainy day jar @ Home Grown Mom	Homemade chalkboard paint @ The Idea Room
Puppet Theatre / Shop @ Skip to my Lou	Toy grill @ Ohdeedoh	Toddler exploration bottle @ Cratzine
Post box @ Lilla a	Box ideas @ Declutter Organize Repurpose	Playdough recipe roundup @ Quirky Momma
Egg Carton Ideas @ Fur Lined Toilet Seats	Button ideas @ Activity Mom	Moon sand @ Play Based Learning
Quiet book ideas @ The How To Gal	Sensory board @ Play at Home Mom	Homemade workbench @ Ohdeedoh
Bath soap crayons @ Kiboomu	DIY Kitchen @ Cotton Candy Castle Photostream	Sensory Balloons @ Play at Home Mom
Shower curtain play mat @ Filth Wizardry	Name Soup @ House of Baby Piranha	Musical instrument roundup @ The Crafty Cow
Sensory tub ideas @ Counting Coconuts	Goop @ Making Memories with your kids	Bath paint @ Meet the Dubiens
Rainbow sensory box @ Share and Remember	Homemade doodle paint @ Delaware County Moms	Galaxy Playdough @ Fairy Dust Teaching

Have you read these articles?:

1. tip tuesday – starting a craft box for the kids
2. 50 Free And Almost Free Holiday Activities For Kids
3. one man’s trash…

I read this tip in an old magazine a few months ago.

Back in the day when I was single, ‘cashed up’ and debt free, I used to subscribe to a few cooking magazines. Several years of monthly mag subscriptions add up (to over 100), so I’ve been slowly going through them one by one, tearing a few of the recipes out and either recycling or donating the rest of the mag (depending on how many recipes I kept).

Ah, the cupboard space I’ve gained!

It’s been fun. Reading through those recipes again, being inspired to cook new ones. And I’ve shrunk shelves full of recipes to two folders worth.

Anyway, here’s the tip I read: recreate a sandwich press by toasting your sandwich in a fry pan and place a plate on top, weighed down with a tin of tomatoes or what not.

Similar result without another electrical appliance cluttering the benches (although I admit that the toaster we were give gets almost daily use).

Have you read these articles?:

1. an alternative to the usual plastic sandwich bags
2. tip tuesday–making peanut butter and honey more efficient
3. tip tuesday – tricks with onions

Photo by threadless.com

I’ve been going MacGyver style a lot lately. I’m on a role. There is no problem in our house too big for duct tape.

The great thing about being frugal is that every day is a  challenge to solve problems, fill needs and fix things around the house with no cash down.

It’s easy to spend money. It’s easy to shop for a ready-made-solution. Our houses are full of ready-made-solutions to everyday problems.

But if we want to keep our hard earned cash in our pockets, we need to get out our creative brains into gear.

When people talk about being creative we think of basket weaving or interpretive dance. We think strange clothes and bohemian living.

But being creative is not just about painting the Mona Lisa or composing a Symphony no.9, it’s about using your noggin to generate useful solutions to everyday problems.

Don’t think that you’re not creative. I’m here to tell you that you are. You exercise your creativity every single day.

Every time you whip up dinner from what’s rolling around in the fridge, you’re being creative.

Every time you handle a difficult customer, or negotiate with a difficult colleague, or solve a pressing problem at work, you’re being creative.

Every time you help your kids with a school project or play with them, or entertain them on a rainy day for free, you’re being creative.

Every time you tell a story, recount an incident, make a funny joke, you’re being creative.

Every time you solve a problem, you’re being creative.

Techniques For Everyday Problem Solving

1. Define your problem

This seems like a duh! thing to say. But don’t skimp over this step. Understanding the problem that you’re trying to solve is essential. Really think about it and look at your problem from multiple angles.

For almost a year I had an ergonomics problem. My new deluxe office chair (that I had to have! ) was too big to fit under my desk. I was getting back strain hunching over to reach the laptop. All that time I was thinking “how do I get a new desk that my super-duper chair fits under?”

But then I realised the problem was not that I needed a new desk. The real problem was that I needed the laptop to be closer to me.

Problem redefined – not to get the chair closer to the desk, but to get the laptop closer to me. After months of dead ends working on the wrong problem, a couple of minutes resulted in a free and functional solution.

Defining your problem and exploring it from different angles, throws light on possible solutions that you may have never otherwise thought of.

2. Brainstorm Solutions

Think of as many solutions as possible. No idea is too outrageous. In fact, the least obvious ideas (and often idea number 20 or 100) are usually the best solutions. Use lateral thinking techniques think outside the box.

3. Do some research

Google your problem. How do others fix it?

Wander around the house, garden, town looking for potential resources that you might use.

Ask someone else.

Look at completely unrelated things and think of ways that they may help solve your problem. In the least it will help you develop your lateral thinking.

Creativity is not a lone process. You don’t have to create something from nothing.

4. Model, Doodle, Moodle

Building models or prototypes is one of the best ways to make your idea tangible so that you can suss it out and develop it in a constructive way. Dig into your kids craft box. Got a cupboard full of empty meat trays, recycled paper, plastic containers, glue, paper, plasticine? Then…

…doodle, play, trust, role play, design, have fun, construct, discover, be open to possibilities, be uninhibited, explore.

Then take a break.

The crazy thing about the creative process is that the solution often pops into our heads at the weirdest moments, epiphany style.

There are all sorts of theories about alpha brainwaves and the subconscious state but at the end of the day, if you can’t find a solution, sleep on it. Or play golf, or take a shower, or work on something else.

Just don’t think at all about your problem. The answer will come to you.

5. Evaluate, Improve, Refashion

The story goes that Edison had thousands of failed attempts before inventing the light bulb. His comment on this? “I have not failed. I’ve just discovered 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

If it doesn’t work then make adjustments or try something else. It doesn’t have to be beautiful (but that doesn’t mean you can’t be aesthetic) it just needs to be functional. If it solves your problem, you have a winner.

Move over MacGyver. Problem Solved. Now where’s the duct tape?

Have you read these articles?:

1. Reflections. Shifting Perspective From A Me Centred World
2. solar power–are you missing out on energy that’s out of this world?
3. food for thought thursday–the world according to monsanto