2
A box. If you have a cat, at least.
When I was a kid: basic printer paper. Drawing is probably part of the intended usecase for a sheet of paper, but I'd also do a bunch of origami and use it to try to make models of airplanes
Growing up, our household had a giant roll of butcher paper. It was 2 ft (60cm) wide and about 1000 feet (300m) long roll. I have no idea why we had it, but as kids we were allowed to use as much as we wanted for whatever we wanted. It turned into a childhood of projects, games, costumes, banners, signs, crafts, wrappings, pranks, etc. Close to the beginning as kids, we'd asked for art supplies like markers, paint, pens, pencils, charcoal, etc to transform that boring cheap paper into different universes. We became creative because it was available.
Something about having an unlimited supply of something and infinite permissions was an unexpected freedom.
Cucumber.
And a model airplane with detachable wings.
What?
PAIGE NO
Zippo is the figit toy of boomers.
Roller bearings, they're so satisfying.
Arch lighters. I have one that fits in a zippo case!
Bumble ball, it's a baby toy with a spinning motor in it, bounces around wildly when you hit the button. As an adult, these things are hilarious and a holding one is a great ADHD stim.
You can make a herbarium out of snack jars from dollar tree. I've never had so much fun looking at a jar of dirt.
Oragami. Any time I'm left unattended with scrap paper I the area with butterflies and flowers. Keeps the hands busy and everyone gets blown away by it.
Are you sure that's an herbarium? Herbariums usually are press dried plants and looks like this.
Terrarium is probably what they meant, though it wouldn't surprise me if the term might be used differently in different languages, even.
standard sheet of paper.
If you're into fun technology stuff, a raspberry pi can be a million different things for you.
With the current market being unaffordable. If you're interested in this hobby I wanna add on check out RISC-V chips and orangePi systems.
Can't help playing with the splicing connectors at work. 
For what it's worth you can also use a magnifying glass to create designs in wood; it doesn't have to be for ant murder.
My add to this is a graphing calculator because you can put games on it and parents simply didn't (and probably still don't) know. You thought I was doing calculus? Ha level 19 in Tetris.
Who needs to add games when you have Block Dude?
Or BOOBIES.
AOL CDs can be used to play Ultimate or disc golf.
God we're old now...
Cardboard box.
I seem my cat posts on Lenny
The 'safety-seal' ring around the cap of a jug of ~~milk~~ (No sane person will ever drink milk, ever again, thanks RkJfr!), water, etc. Cats love them, and humans are amused by cats playing with them.
UHT milk has no problem.
Did I miss something? Is regular pasteurized milk not safe anymore? Did he do something to the pasteurization process?
UHT is kind of pasteurization 2.0.
Pens. Just check out the pen-spinning videos on youtube.
this post was submitted on 23 Feb 2026
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