Beyond The Cardboard Box

I love finding great toys for my son, but often it’s the everyday household objects that end up fascinating him the most. At 15-months-old, he manages to have fun exploring everything from Tupperware containers to shoe boxes. There are a handful of items that have been strangely mesmerizing to him (keeping him busy for almost an hour at a time!), so I am sharing them with you in the hopes that your child will get just as much satisfaction out of this stuff as we did. On a rainy day, a long car ride, or just an afternoon that seems to drag on forever, they can be lifesavers!

Spice turntable (pictured). Typically used to store spices in a kitchen cabinet, this object has recently become an obsession of my son’s. He puts it on the floor and spins it around, then sits back to watch, mesmerized. He also loads it up with small objects, like Legos or stacking cups, and watches them whiz by. (You can buy one at Bed Bath & Beyond.)

Post-it notes. I grabbed a pack of these off the kitchen counter as I was about to leave on a long car trip recently, in the hopes they might be a fun distraction for my son when he got fussy. He ended up peeling one Post-it note after the other off the pack over the course of half an hour. Now I break them out when we’re playing at home and need a new diversion.

Radio. The radio is endlessly fascinating to kids, who love to turn it on and off, fiddle with the volume, and switch stations. The more basic the radio, the better. My son and I play a game where he presses the button to turn the music on, at which point we dance like crazy, and then he turns it off and we freeze (or at least I do–he doesn’t really grasp that part of the game yet). It makes me exhausted just thinking about it, but it’s fun!

Empty tissue box. Children love to fill up and empty containers, and what better one than a tissue box. It’s fun because you can’t always see what you’ve put in there, so kids have to reach their hand in there and feel around for whatever is inside. My son fills an empty tissue box up with wooden rings, plastic straws, legos, of whatever else is laying around.

Purse. Kids love zippers and pockets and opening and closing things. For a fun activity, empty out one of your purses and fill it with little surprises for your child to discover as they explore your bag. This is also fun on plane rides!

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

TADA! Youth Theater

<div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>TADA! Youth Theater </strong>- Camps & Classes</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! Gotta Act!<br /><br />Join TADA! this fall for after-school and weekend musical theater classes available to students ages 4-12!</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Throughout the semester students will:</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><br />ENGAGE IN MUSICAL THEATER TRAINING</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">STAY ACTIVE</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">LEARN VOCALS & CHOREOGRAPHY TO FUN, UPBEAT BROADWAY SONGS</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION AND SOLO OPPORTUNITIES</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">EXPERIENCE ENSEMBLE-BASED INSTRUCTION BY TWO PROFESSIONAL NYC TEACHING ARTISTS</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH NEW FRIENDS!</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Limited spots available! All of our classes take place in person at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/15+W.+28th+Street?entry=gmail&source=g" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/maps/search/15%2BW.%2B28th%2BStreet?entry%3Dgmail%26source%3Dg&source=gmail&ust=1726934764446000&usg=AOvVaw0VHbAyCvA7tMsvjssdURPg">15 W. 28th Street</a> (between Broadway & 5th) and culminate in a final sharing for an invited audience.</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Classes Schedule September 28 - December 17, 2024 (10 Sessions)</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><br />Mondays: </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Mondays, Ages 4-5 | 3:45PM-5:15PM</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Mondays, Ages 6-8 | 3:45PM-5:15PM</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Wednesdays:</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Wednesdays, Ages 8-12 | 4PM-5:30PM</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Saturdays:</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Saturdays, Ages 5-7 | 10AM-11:30AM</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Saturdays, Ages 8-12 | 12N-1:30PM<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Class Descriptions:</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">AGES 4-5, MUSICAL THEATER MINIS:</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Creativity takes center stage! In this upbeat, high-energy class, your Musical Theater Mini will learn new introductory skills in the areas of singing, dancing, and acting. Each session, students participate in fun, creative-play activities as well as learn vocals and choreography to popular Broadway songs. </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><br />AGES 5-7, 6-8 JAZZY JUNIORS and AGES 8-12, RISING STARS: This class offers the perfect blend of musical theater exploration and fun theater games to keep kids creative and active all semester long! Each session, students participate in musical theater training as well as learn vocals and choreography to popular Broadway songs. </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">REGISTER TODAY!<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Link: <a href="https://tadatheater.com/education-overview/fall-classes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tadatheater.com/education-overview/fall-classes/&source=gmail&ust=1726934764446000&usg=AOvVaw0H9gU2AKJIVibL0qw-2lOn">https://tadatheater.com/<wbr />education-overview/fall-<wbr />classes/</a><br /><br /></div> </div> <div> <div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"> <div dir="ltr"> <div dir="ltr"> <div dir="ltr"> <div dir="ltr"> <div dir="ltr"> <div dir="ltr"> <div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park & Children’s Zoo

<p dir="ltr">Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park & Children’s Zoo presents programming for children and families of all ages, animal encounters, zookeeper experiences, VIP tours, season memberships, and much more! Camp Zoo introduces and immerses children in nature through outdoor exploration, games, crafts, and other educational hands-on activities. </p> <p dir="ltr">In partnership with their nonprofit arm, the Foundation for Wildlife Sustainability, the game farm also offers culture, education, and wellness programs to connect people with wildlife and the natural environment. </p> <p dir="ltr">A critical aspect of the game farm is serving as a sanctuary to animals that have been rescued, rehabilitated, or re-homed, including Sicilian miniature donkeys, alpacas, African Sulcatta tortoises, peacocks, rabbits, goats, sheep, alligators, and our beloved Gomez, a Sulphur-crested cockatoo, and Nala, an African Serval cat! </p> <p> </p>

Take the Stage at the Park Slope Day Camp

<p dir="ltr">Take the Stage is a three-week experience for theater artists that offers the experience of creating an original show with friends and performing it. Majors available in Drama, Dance, Music & Stagecraft, Take the Stage blends innovative performing arts activities with traditional day camp including half-day trips & special event theme days in Prospect Park. </p> <p dir="ltr">Take the Stage runs in two 3-week sessions. Performances will be held for PSDC groups on Thursday and for families and friends on Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Extended hours and transportation from most Brooklyn neighborhoods available. Options to mix and match with Traditional Camp and Sports Academy.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a4a05926-7fff-16fe-65b7-8086d8c0b59f">For campers entering Grades 1 - 8.</span></p> <p><strong><span id="docs-internal-guid-a4a05926-7fff-16fe-65b7-8086d8c0b59f">Register while discounts are at their highest.</span></strong></p>