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At our place, we don't keep much here for them to play with. There's a reason for that. When they come over, I want to create memories by playing with them - not just giving them things to do. The things I do have included beads, blocks, pipe cleaners and yarn. By not giving them anything with set directions, they can use their imaginations and create whatever they want with these simple items that can be purchased at the dollar store or craft store.

The kids are three and six, and some of their favorite things to play don't require anything at all except another person! Their favorites include hide and seek, or the "monster game," which means that they hide under the covers, and we pretend we're trying to pull them off the bed. One holds on to the other to try to save them from the monster. They think it's the best game in the world, but what I like about it is watching them protect each other against the monster.

They also love light sticks. Go into a dark room and break open the light sticks and they can sword fight with each other until the lights burn out. We'll connect them into small circles and then play ring toss, bringing the vertical paper towel holder in from the kitchen to catch the rings. They'll make belts and bracelets and like to watch the lights reflected in the mirror as they jump around. We find these light sticks at the dollar store and buy 10 or 12 packages at a time!

The latest entertainment involved using two strands of red beads that are meant to be draped around the Christmas tree. They each wanted a bowl to put their strand in. I had no idea what they had in mind, but gave it to them and stood back to see what they were going to do. Next, they wanted spoons, and then proceeded to make "spaghetti soup." They stirred and stirred those red beads, telling us how good their creation tasted. They offered to let us sample it and of course we made a fuss about how delicious it was.

I remembered how their mother used to love having her own kitchen. We never had any money, so I would take boxes and draw on them so they looked like appliances. She could occupy herself for hours in her little world. I told the kids about how she loved to do that, and then went to find a box for them. I drew burners on the top with a thick magic marker and told them their stove was ready to be used. I gave them hot pad holders and told them to be careful they didn't get burned. Pretty soon, one of them was cooking and the other one was taking orders on a pad of paper. The cook would then deliver the order to us. We laughed as she held the plate up over her head like the waiters in the restaurant do, and then watched her bow down as she served us. We're not sure where she picked that up, but it was just too cute.

This went on for probably two hours. We were running out of ideas for things for them to cook. I can't remember the last time I laughed for two hours. It was better than going to a movie and expecting to be entertained. Not only did we have fun, but they did, too. There was no bickering or fighting between them. They worked together and were totally and completely happy. They went to bed exhausted, and ate cereal on their magic stove the next morning. When they went home later that day, I flipped it over and returned it to its place in my office to hold oversized envelopes. Maybe some day we'll drag it out again. Who knows what we might use it for next time!

The key to all of this was that we were giving them our total attention. They didn't care that the stove was nothing more than a cardboard box. It didn't matter to them that it wasn't molded plastic with some popular name on it. They didn't need water or anything messy to stir. They were creative and used their imaginations to create a magical evening, and as long as we reciprocated by complimenting their efforts, they were in heaven.