I’ve found something new to make…something I may end up focusing on instead of sensory tubs. I’ve just put together two sets, and Gabriela absolutely loves them (and so do her older siblings). I first saw imaginative play sets at Homemade Rainbows, a website company (consisting of two former kindergarten teachers who are currently stay-at-home moms) based in Australia. Their facebook page is HERE. The sets they come up with, using recycled items, second-hand treasures, and some homemade pieces, are amazing! I highly recommend checking out their website if you’re curious about imaginative play sets.
There is no way I could afford any of their sets, but since I have a habit of collecting a lot of interesting odds and ends, I decided to try my own hand at making some sets. I also have a shopping list of things to look for next time I go to charity shops! I used carpet squares for my first 2 sets, but I’m hoping to find some nice placemats to make some larger sets. I took pictures of these to keep record of how I set them up, because eventually I’ll want to return these items to their proper places around the house.
The first is a garden theme:
This set consists of a miniature bench with a tiny bird and a kneeling girl ornament, a basket cart with strawberry and wooden watermelon, a tiny vase and tiny mug with flowers in them, a miniature tea set on a table made of tree blocks, a tiny sign, 3 felt disks, two white things (nuts or something) from potpourri, a necklace, and a card with a girl and garden scene on it. 
The second set is sort of Ukrainian with old-fashioned house miniatures.
This set consists of the wooden round building-shaped trinket box you see at the back left (not sure what to call it), filled with wooden beads, 3 matryoshka dolls from Ukraine (they’re all from larger sets, but I chose the smaller dolls to put in this play set—each one does have smaller dolls inside), wooden people decoration also from Ukraine, a wooden table and chair, a miniature coffee grinder, 3 wooden containers, each holding a red nut thing from a potpourri set, a clock magnet, a miniature sugar bag, and several wooden miniatures (mug holder with mugs, old stove, cat, pie, and oil lamp).
Gabriela played with these nearly all day. While Gabriela took a nap, Moriah played with it during her recess breaks. It was so much fun listening to the imaginative stories they came up with while playing. Isaac likes setting them back up after the girls are finished playing. All said, these were definitely a hit with my kids, and I intend to keep making play sets!
