Save out five seeds, and cut the cuticle of the large end into two tiny points to simulate the ears of a mouse. Knot the thread and run a tiny bit through for a tail. Paste these upon a visiting card, and near them paste a tiny bag made of white muslin to simulate a flour-bag. It can be stuffed with cotton or with emery for needles or pins. Or the card can be sewn upon several layers of cloth as decoration for a penwiper.
Imitation Water
Muskmelon seeds placed in an undulating line in the sand-box suggest water.
SOAP
Hammering (Old-fashioned bar soap, hammer, nails)
A wee child will entertain himself for a long time by hammering nails into a bar of soap if the proper tools be given him. In this simple activity he exercises both mind and body. It requires good coördination on the part of the little one to strike the nail just right, and he enjoys not only the exercise itself, but also the pleasure of imitating the carpenter who uses the hammer so skilfully.
Drawing (White soap, window-pane)
On a day when he must stay indoors, give your child a piece of white soap and let him show you what he can draw upon the window-pane. Ships and trees, houses and flowers have a fairy-like appearance when drawn with this commonplace material upon the impromptu background of glass. This allows the freedom of movement found in blackboard work. It gives scope to the child's imaginative powers and should add nothing to the housekeeper's cares, being readily removed with a damp cloth. It may reveal creative possibilities in some otherwise "mute, inglorious" artist.
CEREAL BOXES
Moving-Van (Cereal-box, glue, two skewers, 4 button-molds, 4 nails or strong pins)