Sometimes the simplest games are the most fascinating ones. The most common household items can provide hours of entertainment, as this favorite activity proves. There are a number of variations to keep the game fresh and appealing, and as your child's skills improve, you can make the game more challenging. It's also fun to play a game you very likely remember from your own childhood!

Step-by-Step:

1. Have your child color the clothespins with markers.  
2. With your child, decorate the coffee can or pail with construction paper, markers, stickers and whatever else you have on hand. 
3. To start the game, have your child stand over the coffee can and see how many clothespins he can drop in.  
4. Have him take a step backward every time he makes it in, and see how far back he can go before he misses. 
5. Another variation is to have your child sit, kneel, stand, even get up on a chair, to see how high he can get before the pin misses the can.

Materials:
Old-fashioned wooden clothespins
Nontoxic colored markers
A large coffee can or pail
Construction paper
Stickers