Before you go out and spend hundreds of dollars this Christmas on play things for your children, it’s important that you read this post.  It’s important for your sanity.  It’s important for your finances.  It’s important for world peace.

Almost everyday I place Jack Henry on a blanket and place several store-bought toys around him.  He plays there for about ten minutes before he’s bored, and I replace the toys with my cell phone or measuring cups or some other household item.  So, I ask you, why do we buy our children toys?!

The following are some ideas of cheap and long-lasting entertainment for your little ones.  Just wrap them up, put them under the tree, and you’re done.  Just sit back and enjoy the holidays….

1.  Laundry basket

You probably have one or several in your house already, but if not, they are available at your local Wal-mart for about $5 or less.  It will provide hours of entertainment for your toddlers and your older ones, who do the pushing.  If you’re a homeschooler, you could also count it as PE.  I even have a demo…

 You’re pets will also enjoy a ride…

Or not.

2.  Fall leaves

Now, this is just about as easy as they come….and FREE.  You know you probably need to rake anyway, so just put your piles in some giftbags and you have instant fun!

And if you’re really into saving, after a while of playing, your small child will more than likely turn your gift into a high fiber snack.

3.  Tissue paper

It’s a long known fact that children under about the age of three are far more interested in the packaging of gifts than the gifts themselves.  So save yourselves a lot of trouble, buy a 99 cent package of tissue and let your kids go crazy on Christmas morning.

They will smush and crinkle to their hearts’ delight, and you’ve just saved a ton of money.

4.  Party hats

Again, you can probably pick up a pack of eight or so for about a dollar.  Give them to your kids, and you’ve just occupied them for the whole afternoon.  Go get a pedicure.

They will pretend to be bees…

They will pretend to be from the pages of Where the Wild Things Are…

And if your child doesn’t happen to like party hats, you can strap one on them for a punishment, a sort of creative time-out…

This is just the beginning of this concept, folks.  If we can pull all of our ideas together, we can really turn this economy around this season.  Maybe we’ll all win the Nobel Peace Prize!  Post your own economical toy solutions below and let’s all be frugal!….or rednecks!….I’m not sure which.