No Time For Flash Cards

preschool activities, preschool crafts, and preschool books.

  • Blog
  • About
    • Terms Of Use
    • Disclaimer
    • Holiday Gift Guide For Kids
    • Advertise
    • In The Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin
  • Preschool Activities
  • crafts for kids
    Preschool Crafts
  • Preschool Books
  • sensory alphabet activity
    Letters & Numbers
  • For Teachers
  • Toddlers
  • Preschool
  • Kindergarten
  • Elementary

December 8, 2009 | 9 Comments

Way Too Many Toys!

Book and Activity!

toomanytoys_cover

This guest post is from Amy from Media Macaroni, Amy’s blog is devoted to all things kids media and her love of books and toys are evident!  I love how they used a book as a leap pad for play and more learning!  Enjoy!

 

The book that I can’t help but think about constantly as I’m at toy store after toy store buying presents is David Shannon’s Too Many Toys , one of our household favorites. The other day I cleared out what can only be described as rubble out of my daughter’s room. You know what I’m talking about: the broken plastic yo-yos and noisemakers from birthday party bags, bent up pieces of paper from that origami phase, little unidentifiable pieces that will never be matched with the toy they came from. All I could think was, “I’m seriously bringing more into this room?!”

In Too Many Toys, little Spencer has way too many toys, a sight all too familiar. The toys cover the floors and spill down the hallway. They cover the yard and the bathroom. But, Spencer’s toys were becoming a household hazard. Spencer’s mom (perhaps one of the most relatable moms in a picture book ever) finally loses it when she trips on railroad tracks while carrying a load of laundry. She haggles, bribes, coaxes, and threatens Spencer to start getting rid of toys. Spencer’s mom is victorious when there’s a giant box full of toys to be banished, but when she returns from a tea break, she discovers the toys emptied all over the hall. There’s Spencer, astronaut helmet on, sitting in his new cardboard rocket. Forget all the toys – the box is the best toy EVER!

rocket1

We took this to heart one day, and built our own rocket out of a gigantic cardboard box. To be authentic to the book, we taped pencils and cardboard tubes to the outside, and drew a nice assortment of planets and blinking lights. One of my favorite features was the control panel that we made on the inside. We drew a numbered keypad beside a list of planets and numbered codes. All you had to do is punch in a three-digit number and you were transported to that planet.

rocket2

No wonder the cardboard box has been inducted into National Toy Hall of Fame . It’s hard to imagine a better way to spend a morning.

 

Filed Under: David Shannon Books, Guest Post, Pretend Play, Rockets | 9 Comments

Like this post? Share it with a friend!

Become an Email Subscriber

Sign up above and receive all new No Time for Flashcards posts directly in your email inbox.

You may also like these posts

superhero craft
Next Post: Fork Printed Christmas Tree Craft
Previous Post: Bell Christmas Ornament !

9 Comments

  1. Cathy says

    December 8, 2009 at 3:23 am

    We LOVE cardboard boxes here. Our all time favourite it turning them into houses http://nurturestore.co.uk/make-a-cardboard-box-house I think once they see your post they’re going to want a rocket too!

    to Cathy" aria-label='reply to this comment to Cathy'>reply to this comment
  2. Aimee says

    December 8, 2009 at 3:57 am

    Cute book! I’ll have to look for that one. Be a good way to get the kids involved too in donating some unused toys to a Charity.

    to Aimee" aria-label='reply to this comment to Aimee'>reply to this comment
  3. georgine says

    December 8, 2009 at 5:40 am

    My daughter (3), Loves a huge cardboard box filled with packing peanuts. She’ll play forever! Cute photos!!!

    to georgine" aria-label='reply to this comment to georgine'>reply to this comment
  4. Beverly says

    December 8, 2009 at 8:16 am

    love this book!

    to Beverly" aria-label='reply to this comment to Beverly'>reply to this comment
  5. Jen says

    December 8, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    I love the author David Shannon, but haven’t read this book yet. I can sooo relate- we have way too many toys and they are scattered in every room in the house!!
    Also, love cardboard boxes for play and for making homemade puppet theatres.

    Jen
    Creative and Curious Kids!
    http://raisingcreativeandcuriouskids.blogspot.com

    to Jen" aria-label='reply to this comment to Jen'>reply to this comment
  6. Lisa says

    December 8, 2009 at 2:19 pm

    I can’t wait to go find this book. We just went on a toy clearing spree this morning. I found a mom through freecyle with the same age kids as me and she needs some things for Christmas. Hip Hip Hooray, our toys are going away!!!!

    to Lisa" aria-label='reply to this comment to Lisa'>reply to this comment
  7. Jenny says

    December 9, 2009 at 1:58 am

    oh, my sons love this book

    to Jenny" aria-label='reply to this comment to Jenny'>reply to this comment
  8. Almost Unschoolers says

    December 12, 2009 at 8:53 am

    This is too true! We built a cardboard submarine in the summer, that was more fun than anything – but really, even just a plain old box in the hands of a child is pure joy personified. Thanks for the book recommendation – I can’t wait to check it out.
    .-= Almost Unschoolers´s last blog ..Marshmallow Dreidels and Chanukah Links =-.

    to Almost Unschoolers" aria-label='reply to this comment to Almost Unschoolers'>reply to this comment

Trackbacks

  1. Timely Blog Posts | The Beautiful Letdown says:
    December 8, 2009 at 11:40 am

    […] Some­times when I’m read­ing posts on oth­ers’ blogs, I read them, maybe leave a com­ment, and don’t think much more of it.  Some­times when I’m read­ing posts, the same topic comes up again and again or a topic hits close to home.  That is what hap­pened to me this week.  First, I came across this post on facil­i­tat­ing children’s play by Allie from No Time For Flash Cards.  Then, a cou­ple days later, I was read­ing her blog and Amy from Media Mac­a­roni had posted this! […]

    to Timely Blog Posts | The Beautiful Letdown" aria-label='reply to this comment to Timely Blog Posts | The Beautiful Letdown'>reply to this comment

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search For Activities

Now In Paperback!

Buy NOW

All Activities

Become an Email Subscriber

Sign up above and receive all new No Time for Flash Cards posts directly in your email inbox.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin

Copyright © 2008-2023 • No Time For Flash Cards - ACM Media LLC • Site Design by Emily White Designs