How many times have you watched as a toddler waddled right past the brightly colored, singing, spinning and jumping circus in order to grab a piece of white notebook paper? Have you witnessed the loads of fun they can have just from crumbling, ripping and gnawing on such a basic and fundamental material?
Paper. Nothing complicated, just paper.
My 8 year old recently came to me and asked if she could have an empty brown box that had once been used for a package. When I asked what she wanted it for, she replied, “I want to build a store.”
Using only markers, scissors, glue and paper, I watched as she transformed that useless cardboard into a lovely creation. She colored and cut out paper images to create store fronts, she designed window displays and she even placed a paper staircase in in the middle of the box. From there she welcomed her dolls in and they shopped!
A box. Nothing complicated, just a box.
I’ve learned that sometimes it’s not about the prettiest, the most expensive or even the most popular toy you can find. When it comes down to it, kids will make use of what they have. Ironically, they enjoy the fundamentals and playtime seems to go so much further when they only are given the basics.
It’s truly amazing what our kids are capable of when they are given the right tools.
This holiday season, I pray that amongst the jumping, singing and fun toys, we also remember to give our kids the tools that matter.
Never stop giving your kids the basics: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Once our girls get their hands on the right tools, they become unstoppable warriors, building glorious lives for Christ!
