Gold Mine for Moms at the Dollar Store

• Colored baskets- The one's that come in different shapes and sizes. These are great for holding magazines, books, and office supplies.
• Sponges- These are great for cutting apart and clipping onto clothespins for sponge painting.  You can also cut these into little shapes.
• Pot holder mitts and bath mitts- These make really great puppets! Add googly eyes, yarn hair and other embellishments and put on a puppet show.
• Paper clocks and spinners- what a great way to practice time and numbers.
• Little cash registers- You can set up a store at your home. Use empty boxes and food containers.  Get a play shopping cart and you are ready to go!
• Envelopes, sticky pads, lists, lots of markers and pens for a great writing box. 
• Stickers- stickers are great for rewards.
• Grab Bags- Yes, these were the bomb!  I found these for both boys and girs.  I was skeptical at first, but when my 7 year old opened it he found great things inside.  Magnifying glass, magnetic rocks, and some mad scientist glasses and ruber bugs!  All for 1 dollar.
• Thematic Party supplies- You don't have to go to a fancy party store to find what you are looking for. I found an entire line of Circus theme cut outs and party favors for a fraction of the cost.
• Photo Frames- these make great gifts for just about everyone. Your child may want to frame a piece of their art work with these inexpensive frames.
• Name tags- I found some great tags with the little red engine on them.
• Glass vases and containers ( really, you could add colored water and flowers of different heights and one would think you purchased these at Crate and Barrel).
• Scrapbook supplies- Really cute scrap-booking supplies and rubber stamps
• Bandannas- Are you thinking about having a hoe down or western party?
• Calendars- very fun to make into posters or books! kids love the bright pictures, good for vocabulary development.
• Flash cards- Start collecting by putting them into those little plastic photo albums so they won't get lost.

Of course, not all of these stores carry the same items. When they are gone, they're gone! So grab your purses and get over to that dollar store. you will never know unless you go!