One of the things we loved to do in our house is expand play by adding our own creative ideas to our existing toys.

That means when we play with  Matchbox, Playmobile or Thomas Trains we make our own scenes and parts from recycled materials.  It enhances the play session and adds an inventive and creative element.

After our first camping trip last summer, we used Playmobile and Matchbox cars to create a campground scene from our memory.  It was great fun to have the kids remember details of their park experience and a challenge to find objects to create what we remembered.

Playmobile is one of our favorite toys, because the possibilities seem endless and the skill level varies.  We have a myriad of Playmobile items from a variety of kits and we mix and match parts.  

Kits are great fun, but why let the toy do all the work for kids. Try using recycled objects next time your kids pull out an activity set and making it even better.  It will not only give it a green theme, but will add ingenuity.  

For these projects, I usually keep a box full of  odds and end recycled materials, such as bottle caps and popsicle sticks on hand.  

There is something magical in the sound of a kids mind working.  It's exciting to hear them solve a problem and share in the moment  "We could make a fishing rod with string and a fish out of paper" and so it goes on!

You will notice that in many of Planetpals craft and activity projects , we suggest that you might add toys to extend the play experience.

For this project we needed to create tents, clothes lines, grass, lake, camping areas, recycle bins,  etc.  Discussing what we might be able use to make them and tapping into our minds to come up with solutions was as exciting as the playtime!

What we used for this campground:

• 2 left over green candy treasure chests for the recycle bins
• Cardboard and yogurt cups for the tents
• Pantone paper for the lake
• Plastic inserts from pizza boxes for tables 
• Rug remnants for  grass
• String for clothesline and fishing rods
• Cut paper for clothes
• Paper bags for the camp areas and road 
• Q-tips for marshmallows
• Legos to make firepits
• Tape
• Markers
• Our Thinking Caps!

A good time was had by all.   

Since this activity we have made more campgrounds, a marketplace, and neighborhood.  We look forward to many more fun projects!  Each one leads to them saying "I was thinking, next time we cold make....."  "I was thinking next time we could use...".

How cool is that! 

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