I’ve noticed lately that the kids haven’t played with their wooden train set. I believe my 3 year old got it for Christmas last year or maybe even 2 years ago. Here is the problem…
We get the tracks all laid out, we’re ready to play and then the big scary sister monster comes in and tramples all over it. (Oh, how I wish I had a picture for an example) It’s as if she smells it from a mile away; big brother trying to play peacefully. Oh, the drama that ensues. He screams, she screams we all scream. Ug! There are times she will sit down and play but she gets bored with it quickly. She is also not light on her touch so when she drives the train the tracks will almost always falter under her weight. They all get frustrated and the train is abandoned.
Back to the plastic box the train set would go lonely and forgotten. The ultimate fix to our problem would be to find a place we could leave the train out so my son could get to it but my daughter could not. Hmmm, not likely. Their ain’t no mountain high enough for this girl.
So lucky me, I had a bright idea. We have an Ikea coffee table in the playroom that was just perfect for my little plan. So, here is how we made our makeshift train table.
First we laid out the tracks to maximize the space and get a couple of hills in there.Then we nailed em’ down! These puppies aren’t going anywhere!
The table also has two drawers where we could store the rest of the train stuff.
My son isn’t particular, he just wants to move the train around the tracks. We needed nothing elaborate just a way to keep the tracks from getting destroyed. We even left room between the two tracks so that he can drive his cars around it. I’m sure the army guys will plan their attack around the train one day as well.
You know, I never thought the Ikea furniture we got as a wedding present would prove to be so versitile!
Oh, watch out here comes the big scary sister monster!
What? She looks so cute and innocent? Boy does she have you guys fooled.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks ladies! I do so love this train table. It is getting so much use now. I don’t know how many times I passed by that train set and said “maybe we should just stick them in the yard sale,” nope not now.
Love this idea! I am going to have to try it out with our set that I used to love but after putting it together and having it ripped apart and stepping on the tracks in the middle of the night a million times, it doesn’t get used nearly as much as it should. I am going to try this. Maybe see if I can find a table to do it on at a thrift store!
Inventive! I know they have a train table with fixed tracks at the book store, but never thought about nailing/gluing the tracks to the table. Alas, we actually purchased a train table a few months back. I slid it across the carpet while vacuuming, so it is now in sad pieces in our guest room until Daddy’s schedule allows him to dream up a way to “fix” it. What a good plan you had!
Seriously so very clever! Girl that is just brilliant and think of all the money you saved yourself. Wow!!