Garbage Toys

If I had known what a scam toys were, I would have saved my money and started saving more garbage instead. My two-year-old finds the recycling bin to be better than Toys 'R' Us. Various throw-away items get new life when she stumbles across them, and I'm all about upcycling in this house.

Here is my list of trash that ends up being the most entertaining toys:

• Empty plastic bottles. Babies love an empty water bottle (cap removed)

• A roll of toilet paper

• Pots, pans and cooking spoons

• An empty paper towel cardboard tube

• A basic calculator

• Bubble wrap

• An empty diaper box

• A key ring (remove actual keys and fill it with plastic keychains with rounded edges)

• Greeting cards that sing

• Tissue paper

• An empty coffee or oatmeal container with lid

Oh, and if you're worried that any of these are potential choking hazards, the solution is to just actually watch your kid. Easy peasy. Happy garbage collecting. Your toddler and wallet will thank you.

Feel free to share any surprising items your kiddo's love to play with!