Provides ceaseless entertainment. Children of all ages find it. Often this is a great warm-up for a playdate and future creativity. Alliances get made; negotiations happen; comfort is established while all focus is on the tray. (It always surprised me how much mileage we got out of this accidental concept. One day I just put out a bunch of beads; the joy of it went on and on…) Also a great solo project… sick day project… discovery game!

Ingredients:

The largest tray you can find (retired room service ones are the best)
An array of inexpensive pony-type beads with a few interesting additions, maybe alphabet beads
Basic wire or string

Sources: craft store or tag sales

How to:

Put all of the beads out, full time, in the corner of a room. I find it fun to add a few new beads occasionally and see how long it takes before someone notices.