Some of the pleasant experiences of childhood are associated with the various toys, games, puzzles and recreational activities one was fortunate enough to have had. Many of these amusements were passed down from our elders and much of the information is verbal in nature and difficult to obtain in printed form. Because many play items are sometimes created during a few moments of rest, often the details of a design are lost for all time. Just how one made a sliding whistle out of a small green willow branch might become hazy in the mind unless notes are taken at the time. And just where can we find a youth who will delay play long enough to record the information he or she might desire to have some decades later?

This collection of amusements is made so that some of these fun things might be passed on to those children who follow. The computer age doesn't mean that the simpler things in life shouldn't still be experienced. The majority of the items covered here actually stem from an unearthing as an adult rather than remembrances of things past. The subjects are varied and some were introduced to our children as they grew up. Several topics are only briefly covered; a bibliography is added in several cases for the purpose of further exploration by the reader.

An attempt was made to select those topics that require a minimum of materials, equipment and effort. The author feels that it is important to create and enjoy a crude toy or procedure rather than worry about it's aesthetics.

It is not assumed that the origin of all toys, ideas, or procedures is known. Sometimes a toy can be attributed to a particular origin, but more often than not it is discovered that ideas have been handed down through the centuries. Particular persons or groups might have added some originality of their own to an object but this simply amounts to variations on a theme. The view taken then is that the subjects presented here belong to the world and no credit is meant to be taken away from any person or group of persons who might have contributed significantly to any idea. Except for those things learned during the process of doing, none of the ideas are original with the author.