Joshua
First school day: "I want my m o m m y . . . "
A ceaseless, one-hour chant. Tears
Jean-bag Project
enough to wash away the walls
of Jericho, "Let's call Mommy
on the playphone." "NO!" The chanting
continues. Suddenly, my lap by Donna Head
fills with small warrior, comsilk
hair graces my breast, "Ivory
Recyclables may be valuable
Snow" cheek sogs my shirt. Later. A
playphone conversation: "Hello,
r e s o u r c e s f o r use in i n f a n t -
Daddy. I go school now. See you toddler child care.
later? Bye." Now, resplendent in
plastic firehat, chartreuse scarf/
cape, he steers the playloft bus. "First
Avenue, next stop!" Preparing You don't need to spend a l,ot of
for the playground, Joshua, who money on children's toys. Here's an
has fought and won his own Battle example of an activity bag made from
of Jericho, pleads: "Can we take items normally tossed away.
the adawaiter up today?" First, reserve from the throw-away
pile an old pair of jeans or slacks with
numerous pockets, belt loops, and clo-
Nightmare in Nelson's Closet
sures like snaps, zippers, and buttons.
In nap-room dimness, Michael's hanging Then cut the legs from the jeans and
onto Nelson's lid - - at twenty paces, stitch the bottom to form a bag. Next,
it's hard to see if he'd cuddling or collect a variety of recyclables which
executing a bear-hug hold. Last month, are safe and may stimulate activity such
a pet dog-consuming fire singed as:
Nelson's sensibilities, burned off the
• plastic bottles (which may be
grownup veneer, frizzled his nerve-ends.
filled with colored water and vegetable
Now, naptime's nightmaretime for Nelson, feared
oil and glued shut)
as walks to Riverside Park, sudden
shifts in routine. Gentled by Michael's strength, • belt to go in belt loops of jeans
he drifts into sleep; sneakered feet dripping
• spools, shoelaces, glove, post-
oft" the cot, eyelids twitching over the
cards, clothespins, fabric samples,
bulging nightmares in Nelson's closet.
plastic shower curtain hooks, pIaying
cards, junk mail, measuring cups, and
scarf to go in pockets or in the jear~s-bag
• lacing section of a tennis shoe
button
.•spr
sewn on the jeans
After the jeans-bag is filled with the
ets for, collected recyclables, the child may
r
•. ,ecyclaoies take this stimulating toy to the day care
tlr~znlng
zippe line center, in the car, and to the doctor's
office or other places where he or she
wants to play and learn.
In addition to being a stimulating toy
~ numerous recylcables in for infants and toddlers, the bag is dur-
jeans-bag able, washable, and portable, and can
be adapted to older children.
frcrntennis shoe
sewn on pocket of bag Donna Head is the Program Director of the
Kirtland Child Care Center at Kirtland Air
Force Base in New Mexico.
FALL 1985 37