This morning, Abbie attached a bag to the end of an old graduation honor cord and said, "Look Mom! Look what I did!" I said, "Great!", and she said, "Yes, it's a swinging purse". This put me in mind of the other "inventions" Abbie has come up with. I guarantee I am not going to remember all of them, (anyone who knows Abbie would readily admit this to be an impossibility). However, here are some of the highlights. In fact, today, I think I will just share Abbie's booklet on how to construct a home playground in your bedroom.
1. The Teeter-Totter Bed
This invention hinges on the presence of a bed that has a rounded foot board as well as a rounded head board. It is also best if it is plastic with a metal frame. Abbie prefers pink, but probably feels it would work with other colors as well. However, with this simple purchase, the Teeter-Totter Bed can be yours.
Instructions for use: Remove toddler mattress from bed. Flip bed over completely. Jump on top of the bed slats and totter away! Bed will naturally rock back and forth because of the advantageous rounding of the head and foot board. But it does take a visionary to see that, so don't feel bad.
2. The In-Room Slide
For this product, you will need the heaviest cube bookcase/dresser Ikea makes, (which is a lot heavier than the brand "Ikea" leads you to believe), and one toddler mattress.
Instructions for use: Take all drawers out of the bookcase/dresser and empty your cloths all over the floor. It works best if you scramble them as much as possible. Scatter across the floor to create a soft landing area. Push dresser over onto it's side. If you are 3 years old, your parents aren't going to think this is possible, because the night before you told them that your plastic dinner plate was way too heavy to carry from the table to the counter. But you know that has been simple posturing and you have been concealing your strength for just such a moment as this. Grab the mattress you discarded in the first project and prop it up onto the dresser, creating the perfect slide angle. Make sure that a good pile of cloths surrounds the slide on all sides to break any intended or unintended exits from the slide before reaching the floor that may occur.
3. The Free Jump
You need nothing additional for this piece of playground equipment. In fact, you already assembled it in project three. In case you hadn't thought of it, the slide also makes a great high surface to jump off of. And since you have already scattered your cloths around the room, you have a great surface to land on.
4. The Closet Jungle Gym
I guarantee you already have what you need for this one. Gaining access will be your only issue. Abbie prefers to use the bookcase/dressser for this activity, when it is not in use as a slide/free jump.
Instructions: Push the bookcase/dresser into the open closet. Empty all hangers. Empty all contents of hangers. These will be used for a different series of projects, some experiments with free-form art. But it's good to have them ready at this stage. Plus, more padding for the floor. Now you are ready. Not only does this give you something to climb all around on, it gives you access, if you are brave enough, to the entire closet. Even those shelves near the ceiling that have been off-limits.
And that gives you a good base to start from. Please remember that any surface can be used for free jumping. Rocking chairs, side tables, truly anything. Feel free to mix it up. Next time we visit Abbie's workshop, we will be covering free-form art that can be created using seemingly harmless, normal objects you currently have in your room. We will also deal with the pesky topic of storage, "What do do when you just can't find enough space." We hope you join us!
1. The Teeter-Totter Bed
This invention hinges on the presence of a bed that has a rounded foot board as well as a rounded head board. It is also best if it is plastic with a metal frame. Abbie prefers pink, but probably feels it would work with other colors as well. However, with this simple purchase, the Teeter-Totter Bed can be yours.
Instructions for use: Remove toddler mattress from bed. Flip bed over completely. Jump on top of the bed slats and totter away! Bed will naturally rock back and forth because of the advantageous rounding of the head and foot board. But it does take a visionary to see that, so don't feel bad.
2. The In-Room Slide
For this product, you will need the heaviest cube bookcase/dresser Ikea makes, (which is a lot heavier than the brand "Ikea" leads you to believe), and one toddler mattress.
Instructions for use: Take all drawers out of the bookcase/dresser and empty your cloths all over the floor. It works best if you scramble them as much as possible. Scatter across the floor to create a soft landing area. Push dresser over onto it's side. If you are 3 years old, your parents aren't going to think this is possible, because the night before you told them that your plastic dinner plate was way too heavy to carry from the table to the counter. But you know that has been simple posturing and you have been concealing your strength for just such a moment as this. Grab the mattress you discarded in the first project and prop it up onto the dresser, creating the perfect slide angle. Make sure that a good pile of cloths surrounds the slide on all sides to break any intended or unintended exits from the slide before reaching the floor that may occur.
3. The Free Jump
You need nothing additional for this piece of playground equipment. In fact, you already assembled it in project three. In case you hadn't thought of it, the slide also makes a great high surface to jump off of. And since you have already scattered your cloths around the room, you have a great surface to land on.
4. The Closet Jungle Gym
I guarantee you already have what you need for this one. Gaining access will be your only issue. Abbie prefers to use the bookcase/dressser for this activity, when it is not in use as a slide/free jump.
Instructions: Push the bookcase/dresser into the open closet. Empty all hangers. Empty all contents of hangers. These will be used for a different series of projects, some experiments with free-form art. But it's good to have them ready at this stage. Plus, more padding for the floor. Now you are ready. Not only does this give you something to climb all around on, it gives you access, if you are brave enough, to the entire closet. Even those shelves near the ceiling that have been off-limits.
And that gives you a good base to start from. Please remember that any surface can be used for free jumping. Rocking chairs, side tables, truly anything. Feel free to mix it up. Next time we visit Abbie's workshop, we will be covering free-form art that can be created using seemingly harmless, normal objects you currently have in your room. We will also deal with the pesky topic of storage, "What do do when you just can't find enough space." We hope you join us!
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