When I was a child....

Has Dad or Grandpa ever begun a story with "When I was a child"? You just know what follows is going to be some sort of lesson in self-reliance, hard work, or resourcefulness. I once cut off my mother-in-law after that introductory phrase with the quip, "there were still covered wagons crossing the prairies." Who knew she could hit that hard? But there is something to be said for the creative use of things that past generations were so good at as children. Yeah, there were "store-bought" toys, but there were also a lot of homemade playthings that did the job as well or better. I remember a GI-type figurine attached to a plastic parachute that a buddy had. My brother showed me how to make a similar toy from a handkerchief, string, and a couple of washers. Not only did my version sail better than the commercial one, it also lasted a heck of a lot longer! And there was also the cool sense of satisfaction that I had made it myself. Parents jokingly say that kids often seem to enjoy the big box a toy comes in more than the toy itself, and there's something to be said for that. With some creative input from a youngster or two, a large box can become a fort, a castle, a car, a truck, a spaceship, a robot... you name it. Now, the Makedo company has taken this artistic "box is better" approach to toy-making by releasing its "find & make" series of construction fasteners for kids 5+ years of age. We carry their car kit made to be used with a cardboard box, paper plates and cups, and whatever you may have lying around the house to build a simply marvelous pretend automobile. The kit includes clips, door hinges, a safety saw, and even a series of auto-themed stickers to customize you child's "ride." All fasteners are reusable for other projects... anything your child can dream up: vehicles, sculptures, costumes, buildings! No messy glue, no duct-tape fastening jobs (save that for Dad)! It's wonderfully simple and simply wonderful! So let your kids develop their own set of "When I was a kid" stories! Check out www.makedo.com.au for some photos of Makedo "find & make" creations!