We have very little structure in our kids' early learning adventures. Instead, there are lots of living book read alouds (Charlotte Mason style), free access to a certain amount of the craft / art supplies and plenty of time for just plain playing both indoors and out. The little ones are also actively learning their faith (prayers, traditions etc) through our day to day devotions and celebrations.
Way back when (in the not so distant past), I began steadily getting rid of the mountain of plastic little-kid junk that was cluttering up the kids' rooms (and the whole house, really). I slowly replaced it with higher quality (and handmade in many cases) open ended things such as blocks, play kitchen, play silks, Lego's (tons of Lego's) and doll houses with people who sometimes have quite elaborate adventures of their own. :)
We do have a number of Montessori inspired activities stationed at various intervals throughout the house, and I change these out for new ones occasionally (when I remember to). We also love the outdoors and all the lovely, natural things in God's amazing Creation. Our nature table (and several other areas) reflects the changing seasons and is an ongoing cooperative project between the older and younger children.
I love placing wooden bowls, trays and baskets around our home with various bits of nature in them for the younger (and older, too) children to discover and play with. Acorns, shells, rocks, bits of different woods, leaves and dried flowers, along with little things they have crafted with natural items are all displayed in these containers.
If you are interested in using natural wood bowls and baskets to contain your children's nature collections, don't forget to keep your eye out for them at thrift stores and yard sales. I don't think I have paid more than $1.00 (mostly 50 cents a piece) for any of the ones pictured above. They are also wonderful in play kitchens and for holding balls of yarn etc.
