Who Needs Toys? 28 Household Items Just as Good

A paper towel or wrapping paper roll can be instantly transformed into a sword, lightsaber, telescope, or megaphone.

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Let your budding Picasso paint the outdoors with a paintbrush and a cup of water.

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A single piece of tape can make some seriously silly faces.

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Tots love to row, row, row your laundry basket all afternoon long.

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Got a few clothespins on hand? Hand 'em over to your child, and watch her create some cool art!

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While supervision is highly recommended with this one (dropped cans and little toes are not always a good match), canned goods can be superfun to use to stack and build anything their lil' hearts desire.

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Another great option for the little engineer in your life.

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Kiddos love pushing around mama's sweeper — and the added bonus is that you might even get your floors cleaned in the process.

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Most mamas have a few canvas bins laying around, and when they're not full, they make great hats, boats, garages, or hiding spots.

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Free and fun, boxes provide endless play opportunites.

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The uses for a paper bag are literally endless for children, but mainly they're great for going shopping around the house.

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Ever handled a small child a catalog or magazine (that you've already looked at)? They love ripping the paper to shreds, and it does wonders for motor skills.

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Forget the TV — as the clothes spin 'round and 'round in a washer and dryer, tots are amazed. For added enjoyment, toss in a toy that needs to be cleaned (just not a favorite toy) so they've got something to look for!

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Babes love the crinkly side of things, and for some reason an envelope does the trick. Watch out for any plastic security windows, as those can be a choking hazard if they come off.

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This may not be the cleanest option, but I've handed my child a box of tissues and watched him have a ridiculous amount of fun pulling out each and every one.

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Give your child access to a few pairs of shoes (not their own), and they will have a blast trying them on, walking around, and goofing off.

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Toilet paper rolls can be stacked, unrolled, and rerolled.

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Prop your baby up in front of a mirror, and it becomes an awesome, nontoy toy.

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Jell-O boxes are lightweight and colorful, so they make great building blocks or roadways for trucks or cars — plus most of us have a handful of them in our pantries at all times.

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You were a kid once too, right? OK, so I'm sure I don't need to tell you why bubble wrap is simply the best nontoy toy ever.

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If you've ever tried to pack with a child nearby, then you've also figured out that kids love playing with, and in, suitcases.

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Fifty-two-card pickup? Babes are down! And bigger, steadier-handed kids can build card houses.

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Forget dishing out the dough on a set of drums; just let your tot rummage through your cabinets, hand him wooden spoons, and you've got endless drumming opportunities.

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Raise your hand if you've ever tried to bait your tot with a dummy remote? Bonus points if you've called Comcast and paid extra for one that looks exactly like yours. Why do we do this? Because babies think remotes are awesome.

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From banging to rolling, those big ole water jugs bring big ole fun.

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Socks are fun to sort, toss, touch, use as puppets, and try on.

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These little pods work great for lining up, stacking, and sorting.

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Young children love to empty the entire contents of a drawer — especially if it's full of books, magazines, or DVDs. Teach him to put them all back, and he'll be entertained for hours (and you won't have to clean it up).

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