Heuristic play, the game of discovery, is an essential component of each baby’s development. Around 10 months they really start discovering the world around them, and regardless of whether you provide them with some material or not they will start playing with every single “everyday” object they can reach. I’m sure you’ve all opened that bottom drawer in your kitchen full of tupperware and let your baby play for long stretches of time!
Recently I bought two sets of wooden curtain rings (large and small) at the local DIY store and gave them to my daughter together with wooden spoons. She loves them; she chews them, she bangs them together, she throws them on the floor, and she is extremely intrigued when I give them to her all stacked on the spoon – she waves it around like a trophy!
It is quite an inexpensive toy to setup and it can last for a while; the next step will be learning how to put the rings back on the spoon.

-Michela