With Easter just around the ol' calendar-corner, EGGS will receive their justifiable attentions. We'll wash, boil and dye them, and in between we'll write on, stencil, and decorate them. Individually unique and discreet. Then some benevolent bunny will hide them for young ones to hunt for and delight in discovering them. Then PRESTO, into the potato salad!

Having elevated EGGS to their height of Easter elegance, we more than likely have forgotten the container in which they were packed, protected, and preserved -- the EGG CARTON. Okay, Ms. Carton, your turn has come! I admit that for years I have pitched and ditched you, smashed and crashed you, neglected and not respected you. One day a wise professor friend of mine suggested that you be turned upside down, your humps used to poke holes in and store children's scissors. Neat idea! Then came the challenge -- "Class, for tomorrow's assignment invent 20 different uses for the EGG carton in programs for children! YIKE!!" The brain-stormed. The mind's machinery began to invent. From that day to this, I look at the world in a different way -- no, actually each thing in it in 20 ways!

Now we're talkin' trash! Trash with a purpose! Teachables from trash-ables. FREE for the saving. FREE for the asking other to help you save. FREEDOM to invent, create, and feel good about it! EGGS-hilarating! My TOP 20 ideas (eat your heart our Mr. Letterman!) include:

1) Storing children's scissors (borrowed this one!)

2) Storing plastic eggs from year to year.

3) Stacking cartons, like building blocks.

4) Separating and stacking by color.

5) Separating by size (12 to 18) humps.

6) Sorting beads, buttons and beans by color or kind.

7) Counting projects: one button in each up is a 1-1 correspondence; numerals 1-12 in cups help with learning sets; practice counting by twos (2-4-6-8-etc.)

8) Mixing colors: water colors to food coloring or discover secondary colors.

9) Centerpieces -- Invert carton, insert candles in humps or in-between; decorate with greenery, flowers and bows.

10) Astronaut/clown shoes -- step on top and tie one with twine!

11) Germinating seeds -- soil, seeds, water and sunlight.

12) Cutting humps and creating flowers.

13) Rock/shell collections -- a section for each specimen decorate lid.

14) Make a papoose carrier -- use lid of carton only.

15) Caterpillars -- cut long sections, six humps each, decorate.

16) Tea Party cups -- cut humps and they provide mountains of pleasureful pretend. Cut saucers from lid.

17) Shakers -- Put in one cup rise, corn, or beans. Tape shut!

18) "Penny Pitch" -- put point values in cups, take turns pitching pennies and adding up your score.

19) Patterns -- Cut patterns of holiday symbols, i.e. hearts, shamrocks, star, bells, etc. Use for art/craft projects.

20) Having REUSED, be sure to RECYCLE!!

Kaye Clemens is a Cape Girardeau child development specialist and columnist for the Southeast Missourian.