Collect various pretty little stones and pebbles on river shore, coast or roadway, and classify in different ways—according to color, shape, size. This exercises the child's observing powers and trains him in detecting differences and resemblances. Keep in small boxes.
Bottled Pebbles (Pebbles, plain glass bottle)
Put some pretty pebbles in a glass bottle filled with water which intensifies the color. Send to some sick friend, especially some one from the prairies who may seldom see stones. It is always well for the child to have some definite object in view when he does anything.
Toy Path-Markers
Use pebbles in the sand-box for outlining the little paths in the wee park or farm.
Jackstones
Pebbles of right size and shape make good jackstones.
Toy Vegetables (Small square of cheesecloth, needle, thread, pebbles)
Make tiny cheesecloth bags and use pebbles as potatoes, apples, etc., in play with the little wagons made by the child. In playing store with them comes opportunity for counting and measuring. Tiny boxes can be used for quart and pint measures, and the child may be shown that two pints make one quart, etc.
Paper-Weight (Large, smooth stone, oil-paints)