Cheap and Free Toys For Kids

We all know how hard it is to entertain kids on a rainy winter weekend.
Simple Mom has posted a lovely list of activities which won’t break the bank. Here are a few:

Egg cartons. They make great caterpillars, they’re good storage containers for little treasures found on walks, and they can even become airline seats for little animal toys.

Water and cups. Our 3-year-old loves to “wash” dishes. Just give her a step stool in front of the sink and a few dishes – she’s lost in her own world.

Paper and safety scissors. Old newspapers, junk mail, scrap paper… give some to your kiddo with a pair of safety scissors, and he’ll be engrossed forever.

Dried beans or rice. It’s fun to pour into bowls and cups of different sizes, and it’s a good sensory exercise. Sand works well, too.

Toilet paper or paper towel tubes. They’re great telescopes for your budding pirate, you can cover the ends and pour some dried beans inside for a musical shaker, or you can sit them upright as bowling pins.

Do you have any others to add?