Yes, we tried all the “trendy” baby toys with my first one. We went completely educational, developmental, color-coordinated, and parent-tested. Then we left the room for 5 minutes and came back to find my daughter (then 2) completely and totally in love with a set of empty spice bottles with no lids. She had to have them wherever she went, and since they weren’t a choking hazard, filled with lead (not even a concern back then) or powered by endless batteries, we obliged. We thought that it was just her wacky sense of humor. We didn’t know it was a “kid” thing.

The next child played with an overgrown zucchini from our garden for weeks. He dressed it in doll clothes and sang to it before it retired for bed each evening. We thought it was cute and “creative” until I found it leaking rotten fluid from the bottom of the toybox. New toy, please.

And so it went for each of my four kids. One liked to play with sheets of bubble wrap, pieces of felt, and his father’s work shirts. The other insisted on pushing a deadbolt back and forth for hours. All of their strange play behavior taught them tactical skills and helped them to “be like daddy” or “do things like mommy” for an hour or so. And since none of the “toys” had been independently tested for safety, they were enjoyed under my watchful eye.

Even now, I took the primary-colored plastic blocks away from my screaming, disapproving 18-month old, and replaced them with a roll of Scotch tape, a spoon, and a doorknob. He’s happy, I’m getting a billion words written, and the universe is at harmony. For now.

Check out some cool homemade toys and gifts, or just scrounge around your junk drawer for any clean, non-toxic doodad that won’t fit into the Choke Tester. Hours of entertainment can be yours!  (You also might find some relief from the amazing puzzles and boards that Melissa and Doug have put together.  Can you say “latches and bolts” Baby?”)