Free Fun

Isn't it true that most babies love the wrapping paper and bows more than the actual toy or gift?  That was true for Henry this Christmas.  Although, he does love his toys now that the pretty wrapping and bows are long gone.  He also loves his "bucket of lids" as I like to call it.  It is actually an empty plastic baby wipes case and a bunch of random lids.  That's it.  And it entertains him for hours.... okay not real hours but at least 15-20 minutes which is like hours in baby time.  This "toy" is great for fine motor skills {picking up the lids, opening the container} and maybe a little gross motor if they are like Henry and like to pick up the container and dump it out or to lift it to his mouth to chew on.  

The yellow lid is his favorite.  It came from one of those snack "puffs" containers

He likes to empty the container, and then fill it back up again.  As you can see I used random lids from {milk jugs, Gatorade bottles, apple juice bottles, and baby food jars}

As your child gets a little older they can work on their fine motor skills a little more and try to fit the smaller lids {milk/juice} into the slot.  This also helps their intellectual/problem solving skills to think about getting that little lid into that little slot.  Also trying to figure out how to get the lid open.  Henry likes to push the little button and see the top pop open {He doesn't always remember how to do it so its fun to watch him "re-learn" to do it} There are endless ways for a child to play with this "toy".  Hours of free fun I tell ya!  You could even use a utility knife and cut the hole a little bigger to fit the larger lids.  

This activity also reminds me of some other fun ones that are similar.  You can get a bunch of different hinged boxes like ring boxes and hide little trinkets in them for your child to find {be careful of choking hazards of course}.  Kids love opening and closing things {Henry particularly loves to open and close doors & cupboards.  This also provides hours of entertainment for him} so the hinged boxes and wet wipe containers are a great alternative!  

Start saving your lids and empty containers so you can have lots of Free Fun for your little one!