whats the the ultimate toy?

[Zerub]

We just had a parcel delivered - a large box full of small bathroom fittings and electrical bits - all packed in millions of little polystyrene "s"s. DD (17 months) is now swimming happily in the box (minus all the stuff we bought obviously!). I can't believe how much fun she is having! I think when she gets bored I'll have to put the box & polystyrene bits away on top of a wardrobe, and keep it for those grumpy late afternoons...

And its got me thinking - what else might I have around the house that she would enjoy more than some expensive ToysRUs creation?

my Ann Summers Rabbit

Do you know, I think that DD would love to play with my rabbit if I switched it on for her... But perhaps I won't show it to her

Someone on Mumsnet suggested putting together a box of treasures, so that the baby has some toys made of something other than plastic. DD (almost 10 months) loves it more than all her other toys. It's a shoe box, currently holding: three plastic bottles, filled with coffee beans, coriander seeds and water with some washing-up liquid; an old purse; a zip; a chain for spectacles; a wooden spoon; some keys; some ribbon; a glass stopper; a ball made from aluminium foil; two small gourds; some tissue paper and a badminton shuttlecock. She spends ages unpacking and examining each thing carefully, then chewing on them and knocking them together.

Any other suggestions for the treasure box would be very welcome!

did the treasure box for ds1 9 years ago!!! favourite for him was pine cones !!! (obviously this is less suitable if the child actually starts eating it...ds1 didn't grow any trees out of his ears etc though so must have been safe enough!!!!)

what is it with my boys ane tees!!!? pinecones one minute....sycamore seed the nexT!!!!