Years ago, my kids crafted their own version of a universal child’s game: collecting items from nature/the garden, assigning those items special qualities (fairy berries! war paint!), and selling them in a “store”. One child (usually the youngest) is “The Collector” and he gathers items to sell to the shop owner, who in turn, markets them to her remaining siblings and friends. It’s kind-of the ultimate unschool nature table make-believe game.
I managed to get a tremendous amount of yardwork done while the kids played, and enjoyed helping George, The Collector, find goodies to bring his siblings.
Thimbleberry, grape, and filbert leaves all make excellent “wrapping paper” for purchased goodies. Bea loves to wrap them up and secure them by pinning with a small twig.
We’re ramping up for our homeschool co-op to start tomorrow (I’m teaching a class based on one of my favorite childhood books, My Side of the Mountain), and have lots to prep today. I’ve also been really busy filling plant orders for folks, and will have a post with more about that tomorrow.