I'm sure this is just one of many fun things you can do with a broken umbrella, but Z and her grandfather make this look like the most fun thing.

Project instructions and background


Reviewed here

The evolution of a mess is almost as interesting as the reminder of how "rolly" many crawlers' locomotion is.

Update: Time-lapse baby in the news!

You too can turn an afternoon at the home of that distant relative who has no toys in sight into a glee-filled festival of fun for your child. All it takes is a few pieces of paper and, depending on your child's age, some tape, a stapler, or a pen or two.

Ages 1-2: Toy Helicopter. Simple enough concept, but this design has the little details that make it actually work. Prepare for fascination, giggling. Make a few, they'll get crushed.



Ages 2-3: Twisting and Jumping Paper Toy. The "jumping" version of this toy will get any toddler hopping. The "twisting" version requires a bit more care. Letting a child color (scribble on) the paper before assembly could add some color and highlight the transformation for young eyes.



Age 4: Paper "Transformer." A malleable and intrinsically interesting object to fiddle with. Dexterity and care reveal a variety of forms. Try it with papers of different colors.



Age 5: Paper magic. Child claims to be no longer interested in your lousy paper toys. Try this.