 
Old-fashioned Toys to Inspire
Children
by Nicole Dean
Walk through any toy store and you will see
walls and walls of toys that are loud -- toys that
require batteries, have flashing lights, or that look like your child's favorite
movie character.
But, what about those of us who want to raise children with imagination and
curiosity? I'll tell you what we do. We choose to fill our houses with
some of the following old-fashioned toys. Books
No house can have enough books. Make sure your house has a
representation of great Fiction Books and non-fiction books. A mix of the two is very important.
Most homes have a deficit of non-fiction books, so make sure your home is filled with Science, History
and Art books. Children need to learn to read and appreciate non-fiction
books in order to do well in research when they reach higher levels
of study.
Felt Boards
Children love to tell stories with felt. You'll need
a felt board to start. You can make your own board from a
sheet of felt or purchase a board from one of the suppliers below.
Once you have the board, let the fun
begin. I personally use both options with my children.
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StoryTeller has a great line of
products -- felt sets, felt books, and so much more. The quality
of their products is excellent. Visit
their site to get a sample and feel the thick felt yourself. Be
sure to check out the dolls with the felt clothing that sticks to
them!
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Go to a craft or fabric store and buy sheets of felt in all
colors. Then, cut out shapes in all colors and sizes. (You'll be
amazed at how quickly a child will make an alien, ship, house, or
person out of nothing but a few circles, rectangles, and triangles.)
Blocks and Legos
Children can
play for hours building towers, bridges, cities, creatures, and more with
these toys that inspire creativity, patience, and small-motor skills.
When the masterpiece is finished, have your child pretend to be a giant and smash through the
blocks -- or grab a few small cars and drive around the new city! Be
sure to name the city and have your child tell you all about it.
Shop the Lego Store Art
Supplies
Give your child some crayons, scissors, junk mail, and glue.
He or she will be entertained for hours if given encouragement. Please
SUPERVISE closely if you don't want your child to have a self-induced bad haircut or
attach the dog to her artwork!
Need some art supplies? We can help!
Art Fun
Puppets
Make puppets out of socks, paper bags, felt, cloth, or
popsicle sticks. Make a stage and tell stories. Get out the video
camera and capture your child's brilliance! Musical
Instruments
Whether your musical instruments are home-made with a comb and wax paper or store bought,
making music is a wonderful way to spend the day. Teach your child that
music can be made from anything, from an old oatmeal container, to
scratching two pieces of sandpaper together. Go on a walk and just listen to
the sounds of the world -- music is everywhere in our
lives. Love to make music? So do we!
Musical Fun
Dress-up Clothes
Get out old prom dresses, big hats, shirts and ties, old Halloween costumes (or buy extra
pieces after Halloween for year-round fun!). Bring out a
box of costumes and watch the shows with your children as the stars. Keep
a camera handy to capture the fun. Also, keep an eye on the pets. Cats don't
always appreciate wearing a sombrero. Trust me, I have the scars to prove
it!
Disney Princess Shoe Trunk
Dream Dazzlers: Fantasy Dress Up Trunk with Bride, Fairy and
Flapper Costumes for 3 Girls and 3 Dolls!
Doll-houses
There is nothing more fun than watching your child make up
stories as the family members move around in a doll house. Plus, if it is a
wooden dollhouse, there is the added benefit of decorating it with some
wallpaper scraps and carpet remnants! Your dollhouse could be a family
heirloom if you put enough love into it.
Magic Cabin - Shop
for Doll House Furniture
In the Kitchen
Kids love to play Kitchen, whether it is mixing air, or getting
to play with food. Give your child a great time by giving them safe kitchen utensils
to play with in the bathtub. Mixing, pouring, and scooping bubbles and water
entertains my children long enough for them to look pruny. Or for a fun alternative,
give them puffed rice cereal and some bowls and utensils on the kitchen
floor. Just plan to vacuum afterwards as there'll be quite a wonderful mess!
Everything Kids' Cookbook: From Mac ' N Cheese to Double
Chocolate Chip Cookies-All You Need to Have Some Finger Lickin' Fun
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About the Author: Nicole Dean is a mom whose life
centers around exposing her children to all the wonders of the
world. She is the owner of Show Mom
the Money-- a fun and exciting site for Work from Home Moms.
Copyright 2004 by Nicole Dean All Rights Reserved |
