How Did Two Tin Cans Become Low Stilts?

Two similar tin cans could become a pair of low stilts. After washing them, children turned them upside down, made a hole on each side near the rim, threaded strong cotton cord through and tied the knots inside. The strings had to be long enough to reach the hands naturally while the child stood on the tins. If too long they could not be pulled firmly; if too short the child had to bend. Sharp edges usually needed an adult to hammer them flat. Names and materials varied by place, with milk-powder and other food tins serving the same purpose.

Standing on them was easy; walking required the hands and feet to move together. When the left foot rose, the left hand had to pull the string so the tin remained against the sole. If the hand was late, the foot lifted while the tin stayed behind. Beginners held a wall or a companion's hand. Once steady, children compared distance, tried turning without stepping off, and swapped tins to discover whether a wider or taller can changed the balance.

These “stilts” raised a child by only a few centimetres. Their real interest was the discovery that hands, feet and an external object had to form one rhythm. They also reflected household material conditions: when the food was finished, its packaging did not immediately become rubbish but entered children's making. The toy seldom belonged exclusively to one child. Whoever could walk demonstrated, and loose knots were repaired together. A simple object connected discarded material, bodily skill and shared order.