Parenting 4 Kids Nationally accredited, 4 Kids Early Learning Network serves children and families throughout the Mon Valley. Through this column, 4 Kids staff members answer reader questions about raising children in the critical early years. E-mail questions for consideration to: questions@4kidsearlyed.org, or mail to: 4 Kids Questions, 445 Fourth St., Braddock, PA 15104.

Q: We've just moved to a new neighborhood, and most of the families have more money than we do. The other kids have big battery-powered ride-on toys, and our 4-year-old wants the same things but we can't afford them. What can we tell him? And how can we make sure the other kids will want to play with him even though he doesn't have great toys?

A: That's a common situation: family incomes differ, kids notice that -- and parents worry. We ask parents to remember that, over the long term, children enjoy creative, involving activities more than toys that are simply expensive. So many families have garages full of pricey playthings that were abandoned once the novelty has worn off.

We suggest that you be honest about the situation, and tell your son that you don't have the money to buy big ride-on toys. But remind him that his friends can come over and do lots of other fun things.

Your home can, for example, become the neighborhood's creative center, providing the combination of direction, independence, family, and friends that children crave. Here are a few ideas for things you can organize -- and supervise -- for the kids.

For outdoor fun, stage a mini-Olympics in your back yard, and give handmade medals or ribbons to the winner. Or set up a scavenger hunt.

Indoors, have the kids create a whole town out of Play-Doh. In fact, you can have fun (and save money) by making and coloring your own dough. Or get some large boxes, supply lots of crayons and markers, and have the kids make and decorate forts, or igloos, or a special secret city.

Head to the dollar store and stock up on art and craft supplies. Buy newsprint pads or rolls so paper is plentiful. Kids can happily spend hours drawing, cutting (with safety scissors), gluing and decorating.

Host a "cookie day" when the children help you mix, bake and decorate sugar cookies. (Check first with the other parents to make sure they're OK with sweets.) Let the kids eat a few, and then let them proudly bring the rest home for their families.

Use common household items to set up pretend play. In our dramatic play areas, kids love running post offices, restaurants and stores.

Helping your son learn that it's not how much you have, it's what you do with whatever you have, is an important lesson in life -- because, even in adulthood, there will always be people with more expensive things.