Don't try this at home

We have a new source of entertainment in our house. How safe it really is, well, is still up for debate. However, it's produced squeals, giggles and laughter. We've dubbed it carpet sledding.

It all started with a Christmas gift innocently called Bilibo.This award-winning toy leaves everything to the imagination, which is probably the reason it's an award-winning toy. The toy's web site says, "Instead of imposing a specific play pattern, Bilibo is open for a wide range of interpretations and encourages the children to invent their own games, to play and have fun in an active and creative way."
Well, the site was right. These brightly colored, plastic shells, for lack of a better description, have definitely allowed Alena and Alivia to invent their own games in an active way.

They have stood on them, sat in them, worn them as hats, provided rides for their stuffed animals in them, performed circus tricks off of them, used them as turtle shells, acted like little crabs crawling in them, but the favorite so far is carpet sledding.

It goes something like this: Position yourself in the Bilibo, beg someone for a push and then squeal as you slide across the living room floor. Once you've come to a stop, retrieve your Bilibo and repeat. Play continues in this fashion until your pusher's arms are tired and/or you've gone through every adult in the room willing to provide two dozen shoves.


We must disclose that there have been a few minor incidents, such as tipping backwards; a finger pinched between the rim of the Bilibo and the floor; and one airborne trip as the shell ramped off another toy laying in its path, so don't try this at home. However, nothing has been so disturbing or hurtful that we don't immediately ask to "do it again."

Editor's note: Our children do, in fact, own clothes (actually, enough for about 12 children); however, they rarely stay on past 7:15 p.m.