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Show 1 ! lt Makes S Cents BY VI JUDGE 5 Dear Headers: J Parents of a six-year- t old boy became very t frustrated because he "ruined" an expensive toy. It was a music box J that played "All Around the Cobbler's Bench." At k the proper time, a felt j weasel popped out. The boy took the toy k apart, made a puppet out J of the weasel, removed 3 the mechanism to see 5 what made it work, and used the box to store his x rock collection. 3 3 It's easy to understand 3 the parents' frustraiton, but this illustrates a most x important point to 5 remember when selec-3 ting toys for children: 3 make sure the play's in 3 the child, not in the toy. Id other words, toys should help the child develop his x creativity. A mechanical 3 toy doesn't do that. The 3 play is all in the toy. A 3 large cardboard box is an example of a creative toy. x It can be anything the I child's imagination wants 3 it to be, a cave, a store, garage, house, robber's den, etc. I Which gives me 5 another idea for 5 youngsters who want to make Christmas gifts, g For a younger brother or x sister, an assortment of ? heavy cardboard boxes 6 from the grocery store. Select boxes that will nest g nicely. Decorate them with wallpaper, contact x paper, or pictures cut from old magazines, or 3 spray paint in various colors. ft -1 . . Another gift idea for 0 children to make: Napkin holders for Mom, Auntie, g or Grandma. Cut the ends jc off plastic gallon milk containers and trim these o smoothly. (Children O should get adult help. We don't need any injuries g for the holidays.) Wrap lx these with remnants of yarn from Mom's knitting O IV ; basket. Also, heavy cardboard mailing tubes can be cut into pieces and wound with yarn. Here's a cute idea from a friend of mine, who is extremely thoughtful: Knowing that preschoolers can't read, she glues a snapshot of a the child on his or her package. She tells me the look of delight on the youngster's face is rich reward for this little extra effort. Another last-minute gift idea for adult or child to make: Cut pine cones in half. Glue the flat sides to old picture frames, then shellac or varnish them. This makes a most attractive frame, For a gift for our feathered friends: make a paste of honey and peanut butter. Add some grain. Pour over cones and hang the to tree limbs. Their songs of gratitude with be your rich reward. Getting a child's overshoes on can be a chore. Slip plastic bags over the child's shoes. Boots slide right on. This helps keep the feet warmer, also. Before lighting your Christmas candles, remember to refrigerate them awhile first. They'll drip less. To light candles in novice cups or sconces, light the end of a long piece of uncooked spagetti. l- An easy yvay tolight the fire in your fireplace. Cut an artificial log in three pieces and wrap them in newspaper. Use only one of the pieces to start your fire. One match gets the fire started. To clean fireplace glass doors, lay them flat, place a newspaper pad over stained spot. Pour ammonia on paper. Let stand five minutes or so. Wipe off. Repeat if necessary. |