Instead of toys - Pipes!

I have been thinking hard on what sort of materials to get the boys without having to splurge on toys. How about PVC pipes and an assortment of joints? Sturdy, made from good quality plastic, should allow lots of room for creative play, get the boys exposed to plumbing and I can always use the materials for home repairs.

 I said to them "Here these are for you. Do as you like"

Han's water blaster

Water fountain

I will need to modify the lengths of the pipes, perhaps make all of them at an equal length of 1 foot  as I noticed that pipes in various lengths made it difficult to create certain designs that they thought of such as loops and ladders.
And I would definitely need to get more pipes as they ran out of pipes in minutes.

Blocks

I finally found the time to retrieve and sort out the discarded wood blocks for the boys.

In no time, the boys had themselves a fort

They went on to build battleships

Ean was pleased with the tunnel I built him. As you can see, the boys didn't acquire their architectural skills from me

Mess?

My boys enjoy using all available furniture, cushion, basket, push car...anything to build forts.

They would push and drag the rosewood chairs together, jump on the table and proclaim it as their pirate ship.

Set the scene, set the mood.

I feel that the boys have an innate need to create shelters. Lately they have built in a bed of cushions for the 'baby' to lie on. They take pride in being able to take care of Ean.

They would then hunt and gather food and fend off invading enemies.

My living room is always in a state of utter chaos. I have to restrain myself from forcing them to clear up their 'mess'. Mess to me is a fort/castle/ship/farm to them. It is only when they have moved on to play with something else do I insist that they clear up.

Me: Are you done playing in your ship?

Han: It isn't a ship, its a farm

Me: Are you done playing in your farm, Han?

Han: No

Me: But you have been playing with Lego for the past 2 hour and the farm has been abandoned since you started on Lego

Fai: He is building a tractor for the farm

Me: Oh sorry boys.

Grandma (while 'destroying' the farm): **mutter**no place to sit, never keep things, what will people say when they come to the house **mutter**

They would come running to me with crestfallen faces whenever their grandmother 'destroys' their constructions. And I would have to explain that they have intruded into her space (the praying altar and the tv room between 3-8pm) and they would have to respect her need to keep the area free from toys.

It is tough balancing between respecting my boys' needs and respecting their grandmother's feelings.

fun time @ IKEA

What I like about Ikea merchandise is that it encourages imaginative play.

When Fai first saw the blue chute, he got Han to sit inside and he dragged his brother around.

I think that takes a lot of trust, to sit inside, not knowing where you will be pulled to.
They took turns pulling and being pulled.

When Han lost interest and went to play camping with 2 bunnies, Fai turned into a caterpillar.

What a workout he got.