1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to have a box of fun. I 4 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: don't know about you, but I actually like those baskets 5 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 1: of random treats that people send around the holidays. I 6 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: like finding a new candy or new kind of cheese, 7 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: even if I don't actually wind up eating the items 8 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: in question. One of my favorite baby gifts I've ever 9 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: received was a wagon filled with random toys, books, and outfits. 10 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: It's a collection of stuff to discover and it can 11 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: be quite enjoyable. Now, this is particularly true for smaller sorts, 12 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: whether you have kids of your own or not. Kids 13 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: surely visit your home every now and then, or at 14 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: least will in the future when socializing returns to normal. 15 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: You can become a favorite destination by all always having 16 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 1: a box of fun on hand for your young guests 17 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: to peruse and enjoy. And when they're happy, everyone else 18 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: will be happy, and that can create a lot of goodwill. Now, 19 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: a box of fun doesn't have to be particularly fancy. 20 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: Buy a plastic storage container and then fill it with 21 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 1: some all purpose toys and art supplies. Such as cryans 22 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: and paper or coloring books, a slinky matchbox, cars, a 23 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 1: word fine book, a deck of cards, dolls, stuffed animals, legos, 24 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 1: and so on. You may already have some of these 25 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 1: things in your house and that could go in your 26 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: box of Fun. If not, ten dollars at the dollar 27 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,839 Speaker 1: store can go a long way. If you're not sure 28 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 1: what to include, you could enlist in older child's help 29 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: to select items for the box. Now, this box is 30 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: nothing earth shattering, but branding it as a box of 31 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: Fun or with another name of your choosing makes it 32 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: a thing. It makes it feel special and intentional. You 33 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: are not just handing a child a random toy and 34 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: asking the child to entertain themselves. You've curated an assortment 35 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: of items with their delight in mind. Maybe you call 36 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: it a treasure chest or a recreation station, though I 37 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,079 Speaker 1: personally like box of fun. Just give it a name 38 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: to make it feel special. When kids know you have 39 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: this box of fun, they'll ask for it by name 40 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: when they get to your house. Opening the box of 41 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: Fun will be a happy ritual when they arrive and 42 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: see what new items you've included. You can store the 43 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: box of Fun in a coat closet or mudroom so 44 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: that it's accessible as soon as it's requested. Having a 45 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 1: box of fun ensures that all your guests feel welcome 46 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 1: and lets you interact with your young friend's parents while 47 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: the kids stay happily entertained. Now, I know that most 48 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: families with kids feel like the house is already overrun 49 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: with toys, but it might be helpful for parants to 50 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 1: create a box of fun too. If a client or 51 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: your boss calls unexpectedly and you need something to occupy 52 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 1: the kids, a box of fun can do the trick. 53 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 1: A new toy or two will occupy the child for 54 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: at least a little bit, meaning that maybe, just maybe, 55 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: you can take your call in peace. What would you 56 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: put in a box of fun? If you create one, 57 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear all about it, because I am 58 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: always looking for ideas. You can reach me at Before 59 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: Breakfast podcast at ihart media dot com. In the meantime, 60 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's to making 61 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: the most of our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to 62 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: hear from you. You can send me your tips, your questions, 63 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: or anything else. Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook 64 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: and Instagram at Before Breakfast pod. That's b E the 65 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: number four, then Breakfast p O D. You can also 66 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: shoot me an email at Before Breakfast podcast at iHeartMedia 67 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: dot com that Before Breakfast is spelled out with all 68 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: the letters. Thanks so much, I look forward to staying 69 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 1: in touch. Before Breakfast is a production of I heart Radio. 70 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit the i 71 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 72 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.