It's Not Supposed to Be Used That Way

From a pretty early age it was apparent that Lochlan thought differently than most. His little brain processes things differently, and I don't think I've met a kid who just doesn't play with toys. Yeah. He really doesn't play with them. Unless it chops, slices, shoots, or whacks.

I started noticing that he used items around the house, or things in nature in ways they weren't designed or intended to be used. I used to be frustrated with this. But I began to see that in his mind, the ways he uses them are perfectly legitimate and that, in fact, it might mean he will be a real problem-solver in the future. It was fascinating seeing some of the things he found other uses for... so I started documenting them in picture/video form.

I thought these were refrigerator magnets... He sees them as stacking bracelets/bangles.

Underwear is not just for the bottom... or next to the bottom! 

Rain boots are actually for collecting water... not keeping your feet out of the freezing cold Oregon ocean water.

 

Laundry baskets are boats. And croquet mallets are battle axes.

Frizbees are actually magnifying glasses and your pirate pants are for shoving swords in.

When you have an injury inside your mouth, the best course of action is to bandaid the mouth hole.

 

And I'm not sure what's going on here... but it involves a bucket head, a water polo stick through the pants and a bungee cord.

Sports cones are really megaphones and cannons. 

When you can't find your sword, you can use a matchbox car race track or a smoothie pop holder! 

Can't afford a boat? It doesn't matter. Buckets work fine.

 

This is a bow an arrow made from a snorkel and a stethoscope.

 

At the beach, he spends a long time making a perfectly straight towel... only to lay right next to it.

This is "Adventure Man" and this outfit... (notice the straw sticking out of his hat and the light saber).

Here he is making a raft from palm fronds and jungle material.

Palm fronds can also be used as a rifle. He marched back and forth with this along the road complete with salutes and stiff turns.

This fabric snake was temporarily turned into a whip.

Bamboo can be a jail.

A snorkel is a trumpet.

Coral is a mustache.

Your fluffy hair doubles as a bird nest.

And the zipper in front of your pants can double as a place to save "snacks for the plane!"

Why go down the slide feet first?

Why not make a hat from more palm fronds?

A little sand can turn you into "Sanda Clause" 

And why would you get in the water to snorkel when you can do it from the side of the pool?

Sometimes his inventions or creative uses can get a little dangerous... This one didn't turn out too well.

And the lounges when used as diving boards are pretty tippy.

Lochlan's "creativity" can be frustrating at times, but also so funny and interesting. We can't wait to see what he will be or do as an adult. For now, we'll just enjoy our inventive and adventuresome little buddy, whether he uses things as they are meant to be used or not.