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Turn Your Next Toddler Playdate into the War for Arakkis

This weekend my lovely wife said something that made my mind immediately think of Frank Herbert’s classic novel, Dune. I did not know that if you sprinkle cinnamon in a sandbox that it will keep ants away.

While this is all fascinating and practical, I immediately thought the following: if you sprinkle cinnamon in a sandbox, you create a spice blow in miniature on Arakkis. What better way to engage your toddler with early science fiction / fantasy geekery?

Soon after, Lego harvesters can show up to capture the spice mass and sell it to the spacing guild. Before you know it, a byzantine world of interstellar politics will erupt in your sandbox! Native Fremen will clash with the elite warriors of House Harkonnen. From the ashes of a fallen royal house, Muad’Dib will arise and conquer the galaxy in a bloody war.


In addition to the fun of adding cinnamon to your sandbox, studious use of water toys and Bermuda grass can terraform your once barren Arakkis into a green world. Generations of Fremen and conquerors alike said that it could not be done, but you can prove them wrong.

And it all begins with one simple action:



Believe it or not, I do not have too much time on my hands.

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