Many have said something about donating them to schools. As a former elementary school teacher and preschool director, those little bits of "junk" are gems. Preschool children use them as counters, additions to blocks for creating new structures (like the little boys and the forts) and for developing fine motor skills by stinging, stacking and learning how spools move. All in a days work for a child and an innovative teacher. At the very least as one message said, they make great additions to art projects for children of all ages.
If you have donated and wonder what the kiddos do with them, ask. Most teachers are happy to show off what their children can do. You may become a very special friend to that group children and can them how it happened that you got so many spools. Our quilts are another whole lesson in color, shapes, traditions and geometry for children.
Last edited by WMUTeach; 01-05-2012 at 05:38 AM.