Tot School

I recently discovered this website and I have been so inspired!  It has SO many great ideas for things to do with preschool age kids!  (I'm sure it has lots of good things for older kids too since this mom homeschools her 3rd grander, but I haven't read that part.)  These are just simple Montessori type activities to encourage 1 to 3-year-olds to learn through play.  I really love her Tot Packs, but most of those are still a bit advanced for Eleanor.  I want to create some of the tot tray ideas that she has, and I'm starting to collect things I need.  If you live near me (or if I'm going to see you at some point over the holidays), I'd really appreciate it if you could help me by saving some of the following items:

• Plastic clear jars, like peanut butter jars, with their lids.  Big ones would be especially great!
• Large plastic clear bottles like Gatorade bottles.  (not average size water bottles)
• Plastic lids of all shapes, sizes, and colors!
• Tall Pringles cans (I don't need a ton of these, but a few would be nice.)

Other things I'm on the lookout for if you happen to have any extras:

• Beads of all shapes and sizes (I will always be supervising this)
• Small erasers
• Clothes pins, both large and small
• Clips
• Plastic tongs
• Shells
• Seasonal items, like stickers

My goal is to get this going on a daily or near daily basis by the beginning of December.  It's a little overwhelming at first, but I'm starting to form a plan and get some good ideas.  I'll be sure to post pictures and updates once we start our own little informal "Tot School."  And this is totally random, but if you're now interested in doing this too I just wanted to point out that there's this amazing laminating machine and these sheets for it.  Besides the initial cost of the machine ($32), it costs about 25 cents for every 8.5x11 sheet that you laminate.  That's not too bad!  I don't have one yet, but it's definitely a part of the eventual plan.