anyone who knows me well, knows that i absolutely love sticks, rocks, shells, leaves…..
and why I was thrilled to read this recently:
Curators at the Strong National Museum of Play branched out when they added the stick to their collection of all-time beloved toys. Among the most versatile amusements, sticks have inspired central equipment in several sports, including baseball, hockey, lacrosse, fencing, cricket, fishing, and pool. Humble twigs are also ready-made for fetch, slingshots, toasting marshmallows, and boundless make-believe.
Located in Rochester, New York – about 70 miles northeast of Fisher-Price’s headquarters – the Strong acquired the fledgling National Toy Hall of Fame in 2002. To date, more than 70 toys have been inducted, including Crayola Crayons, Duncan Yo-Yos, and bicycles. The stick was added in 2008, three years after another quintessential source of cheap childhood delight: the cardboard box. Hail to the mighty stick!
—
‘some of you did not spend your childhood making potions
out of random leaves, berries, flowers, and twigs
tossed into a tub of water and stirred with a stick that you found….
and it shows.’
-author unknown
—
source credits: google image, nice news, strong national museum of play
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Sticks and cardboard boxes were the delights of my childhood. They can become anything your imagination wants them to be.
Best wishes, Pete.
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that’s exactly it, Pete. no limits
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Love this as much as I love a great stick.
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<3
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I also still am fascinated by sticks, stones , rocks, pebbles, shells and seed pods… Anything natural that inspires my imagination… It could be.. this or that… It reminds me of… Bringing out the childlike play ❤️
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yes, exactly! kindred spirits
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💝💫
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Never have played with a stick!!!
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there’s still time, sadje! )
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Lol! I don’t trust myself to not injure myself with it.
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)))
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a tree-mendous choice!
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good one!
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Ah, the humble stick (quill) is mightier than the sword …
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’tis
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I agree, sticks are important in ply. I used them in our sandpit for gearstick levers, flagpoles, fences and other things.
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how wonderful!
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Oh my goodness…yes! One of my first fabulous play time memories involves a stick and making “spaghetti” from damp weeds. Maybe three years old? LOVE the poem, Beth! Yes!!!🥰❤️🥰
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I can’t even say how much I love this Vicki, my sister from another mother !
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Oh my gosh…you MADE my morning! I feel the same about you! Shared DNA in some way! I really should write about my sticks, “spaghetti and meatballs”. Love how you inspire me, sister! 🥰❤️🥰
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oh, yes you should!!
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🥰❤️🥰
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I would love to visit that museum one day. Sounds so delightful! Sticks and boxes – and forts – were quintessential parts of childhood and so glad to see them recognized this way!
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yes, I’m glad they saw how important these were, and not just commercially made toys
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Rocks went along well with sticks as things I played with as a kid, Beth. Cheers to the Strong Museum of Play folks for imaginative thinking.
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yes!
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Yew betcha! I call my golf clubs sticks. It all goes back.
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so right! and me with croquet and badminton
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Simply marvelous. I love this!
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you know to be true, I’m quite sure –
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Yes, hail to the mighty stick! The quote is exactly the best play for children (of course you already know that.)
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and you as well -)
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😍
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What a fascinating museum this must be for all ages.
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oh, I agree, I’d love to visit
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Hall of fame toy for sure! Ms O just built a beach fort with sticks and Mr D has his favorite by the back door for hitting rocks. Love it!
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fantastic!
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Some of you did make those potions. And it shows!
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witches, all! )
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Sticks are a wonderful toy and used by all kids, at one time or another. I still play with sticks and each one is different and has a different purpose. Love them. So happy they are appreciated and in their proper place for the attention they deserve. :)
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yes, that’s right –
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Sticks … the perfect toy. One time my kids were playing on a bridge near us. I asked what they playing. They were playing Pooh sticks from Winnie the Pooh, seeing which stick came out the other side first! Ha ha!
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how wonderful!
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Sticks, boxes and rocks….oh my!
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all so great
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My best stick memory: In the prairies, in Winnipeg, there was an alley being built. I was about 8. It was just before modern construction lights and they used these flaming smudge pots.
I stole a carrot from the fridge, stuck a stick though it and cooked it over the smudge pot. Best carrot I ever ate!
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That’s fantastic!
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Best carrot on a stick award. Thank you Beth!
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The stick and the box are both highly underrated toys.
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But, oh what great toys they are!
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Nothing beats a stick. Heck, I still pick up sticks today!
I love the quote :)
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Me too!
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I always have a selection of big fridge sized cardboard boxes. When grandsons come, they know where the pencils, tape, string are, and get to work. Constructions usually include table, chairs and and whatever they need to finish their project.
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How wonderful!
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The simple stick!
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still love them!
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Aww, all those lovely things for kids (and maybe me too).
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that’s just so sweet! sticks indeed MUST have their place in such a collection. and sand. and leaves, berries and more.
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A great post Beth. Outdoor play in the woods with sticks and leaves was where I lived in the summertime!
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it was such a wonderful playground with no limits
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Yes the very best, poison ivy and all!
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What kid doesn’t love a stick?
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unless you’ve never had experience near the woods, as some haven’t
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I liked to make little wooden boats to float down the creek!
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oh, how fantastic
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Yes, the stick! Oh, how I loved playing with sticks as a child. They are so adaptable in a child’s imagination.
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no limits on the games you can play
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