Crafts and toys for kids: Free, fun and educational

• We all know that kids love to deconstruct, hide and mismatch objects. Giving them access to a variety of containers – such as empty wipe boxes, coffee canisters cloth grocery bags, coolers, gift bags in which to stuff, hide and horde toys and other objects – can not only help stimulate their imagination but, if you take the time to explain how, models good recycling behaviour. 

• Children love secret places – but not at $300 for a pre-fab fort. It's not just the price that deters parents from buying a readymade structure, it's the promise of the fun kids will have making their own. Searching for materials, erecting a structure, painting it and having the opportunity to create is as they see fit is the best part in making a fort. It also exercises a diverse set of skills such as measuring, innovation, design, planning and flexible thinking. They'll be thrilled to know they created a place of their own.

Allow your kids to use old blankets or sheets to drape over coffee or kitchen tables to create a temporary fort. Appliance boxes are also ideal – if your kids are too young, help them cut out doors and windows. For an outdoor fort they can use tarps, branches, old lumber, or anything you have lying around. Let them use paint, markers or crayons to decorate their houses. If space is an issue, you can simply tie a string from the foot of their bed frame to a hook on the opposite wall, then let them sling sheets over the line. Provide flashlights to up the secret-factor.

• Costumes are a basic element of imaginative play. If you don't have time to make a full costume, never fear, many items found in and around the home can serve as dress-up fare.

Try cutting out a single egg holder in a cardboard egg carton, then punch two holes on either side and loop string through each hole to make a pig nose; or, to make a cat, add pipe cleaners for whiskers; or use two egg holders to serve as the base for bunny ears. You can also paint one black and use it as a pirate eye patch.

Have your child hunt outside for fall leaves and glue them on a hair band to make a woodland fairy crown.

Use plastic bags as fairy skirts (simply cut out the bottom of the bag then cut vertical strips to make the frills) or as capes for superheroes.

In a pinch, give your kids access to your closet for an hour to dress up in mommy and daddy's clothes, just remember to hide your best clothes.

• Try making homemade instruments that your can "play". Take two aluminum pie plates, staple them together halfway around then fill the pocket with music-making things like bells, if you have them, pennies, or dried bean. Then staple the rest of the way around to make a tambourine. Glue or thread ribbon, tissue paper or tinfoil to the instrument for decoration.

Also, fill any size Tupperware with shaker items like uncooked rice, beans or lentils, then use strong tape to seal it.

An empty Kleenex box can easily be turned into a guitar, just wrap some elastic bands (different thicknesses will create different notes) around the hole, then cut a hole out of the end of the box and insert an empty paper towel roll to make a handle.

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