The Costume Box and The Collage Box are two things I think of as essential for all households with kids. I think I must have inherited my philosophy regarding children's toys from my mother. She believed quite firmly that children really shouldn't have a ton of toys, especially "cheap junkie" ones. We also didn't have a lot of money, so it was easy to stick to this.
They did splurge to get me a Patty Playpal doll when I had my tonsils out, I think I was about age 4. This doll was widely advertised on TV as a life size doll who could share your clothes and be almost like a real live playmate. I was thrilled. But my mother said once I got her clothes off I found it too hard to maneuver her and I would just drag this naked large doll around the house by her hair.
My mother did believe in books. Ours were mostly from the library, though we did have some Little Golden Books and a World Book Encyclopedia. And she approved of art supplies and building toys. I remember a nice set of solid wood blocks my brother and I shared. And Lincoln Logs.
I tried to implement this with my daughter. Though I was not as disciplined because when my daughter was young I used to go to garage sales every Saturday and there were always so many great children's items at ridiculously low prices that I could not resist. I think sometimes more toys are overwhelming and less appreciated compared to when they are scarcer.
But one of her favorite things, right up there with the kitchen I made for her, was The Costume Box. A large carton filled with various outfits and accessories. I had fun collecting the contents, mostly from the aforementioned yard sales. Filmy gauzy fabrics, hats, fake furs, beads, and other things like that were a big hit. Whenever other children came to play, dressing up would be a main activity. And this interest held for many years. Such an easy to put together but satisfying pastime.
A Collage Box was another idea I got from my childhood. My father, although his occupation was a ladies dress cutter in the garment district of NY, was always a creative, art appreciating type. It was his idea to set aside a carton and put all random interesting bits and bobs into it. Later to be used to arrange and paste and form a collage with. A little doily, some tissue paper, a ticket stub, some gold foil from candies, things like that soon made their way into the box. And it was always at the ready if a card needed to be made or just something to do on a rainy day. P.S. I still have one.
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