We still have a lot of the old toys that our children grew up playing with.
Some of them have “aged” a bit, or lost a few parts, but they are still good play things for our grand children, and many of them are not available to buy any more.
Does anybody remember the Fisher Price Post Office?
It came with some small plastic envelopes and letters, and it had some fun little compartments where you could deposit letters and sort the mail.
Our post office had lost a few drawers, and only one or two letters remained, but the little grands still loved playing with it.
Recently, as one lonely letter was being delivered (and redelivered) to someone, we stumbled upon an idea that sort of mushroomed into a fun project. I pulled out some foam craft sheets and markers and we started making some new letters. My little helpers loved watching me make some “mail” and they wanted to help make some, too. We spent a good part of the afternoon thinking up great letters to send to different family members. Someone won the lottery and was invited to collect their money. Ken was asked to send money to Grandma Jo. Olivia got a love note from a secret admirer. Birthday cards and invitations were thought up. A few unique letters were written by children who don’t read yet, but they were still made with a big helping of love.
Another day some different grands came by and wanted to join in on the project and they created even more wonderful, creative letters. Brittany sewed a cute blue mail bag, complete with a shoulder strap. Ken printed some postcards from our vacation last summer in Oregon. We even created some packages containing garden seeds, and a blog book, tied with jute string. The best part is that this project can be ongoing. I have a LOT of foam sheets!
Fisher Price toys always fostered creativity, but the family letters made this toy fresh, personal and relevant today.
As a fan of hand written letters, and one who hates to see the art die out, maybe this will help teach our grand children the joy found in sending and receiving mail. We recently added a little mail box to our play house and we are thinking of putting one by our back door for letters from the play house.
Remember the blog post I did a few years ago about letters I had sent to Aunt Mardene and how she had saved every single one?
You can click on the link below to read about it.
OLD LETTERS
Well, it’s time to go to bed (and dream up some more letter ideas).
JoAnn
P.S. Should I be rich since winning the lottery and getting money from Ken?
