Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Simple, cheap things to make and do with your toddlers

redforever · 08-30-2006, 09:30 PM

Now, if you wish to know my opinions about great toys to stimulate your children and get them to use their imagination.

Lego - for both sexes of course. For those young children who really like movement, you can get motorized pieces to add in I believe. My son made all the Star Wars fighter space ships etc.

Hand and finger puppets - siblings can put on their own little pretend shows, so can your child do so with other friends.

Interactive books - by this, I mean the type of books with say holes for your kiddies fingers etc. Or books that have perhaps houses with moveable windows, and when the window is moved and opened, another charcter of the story appears. These are great for both bedtime stories and for playing by themselves.

Puzzles - the pliable rubber types are great for toddlers. Or, the ones in a wooden sort of shadow box. Young toddlers will find it too hard to put pieces together in an open setting, they need something fixed around the edges to get them started.

Construction toys - Tonka or Fisher price trucks, bulldozers, anything along that line, to be used in sandboxes, but also open outdoor settings and pretend indoor settings. My daughter and son played for hours with these type of toys in their sandbox. One xmas, my daughter was given a doll by one set of her grandparents, one that looked a lot like my daughter, and one that could walk. My daughter looked at it and said, but Grandma, I really wanted a bulldozer. Try to find and buy toys that your child makes work, not that batteries make them work.

Get your son a real little hammer, like Daddy's, only smaller, with a metal head, not the plastic ones that they cant do anything with. Yes, you might have a few permanent indentations left around but at least they dont get frustrated from trying to build with a weak plastic toy. Once they have the small hammers etc, why not get a bird house kit and build a bird house? Younger children will need help of course. I mean, once you have the bird house, why not put it in a prime location, one that will actually get birds the next summer, and then your child will be able to watch the activity of birds, and hopefully see some young birds hatch. And why not put up some bird feeder to attract birds all year round.

Musical instruments - I am talking things like a xylophone, small keyboard, flute, tamborines, comb and paper etc. Who cares if your child has any musical talent.

Seeds - it is late in the year to start a lot of these right now but give it a go next year. Make sure for young children, you get seeds that germinate quickly. Their attention will soon be lost if you buy some seed that matures into a plant 120 days from the time you plant it. Try things like radish, lettuce, peas, beans. If you have a sunny outdoor area, even a small patio, put them outside next summer. If you have a hot sunny indoor area, plant them any time of the year. Now, they might not all bear fruit etc the size you would find in the store, but you should get something. You can grow lettuce all year round in front of a south sunny window. Plant some lettuce or mesculin mix in a flattish round container. When 3 or 4 inches high, snip with a scissor and let them make their own little salad. And if they dont snip right down to the ground, the lettuce will grow up again, and again, and again.

Dress up clothes - have your own little tickle trunk and put fun clothes and other things in that you know your child will like. And keep taking some out and putting new stuff in for surprises. They will find lots of things to do to tickle their fancy.

Board games - there are board games now for just about any age child. Of course, as the child matures, so can the type of game you buy for them. And try to buy a variety of games, some that are just plain fun and loud and silly and some that are serious and demand a mental challenge too.

Ok, now you are started, the rest is up to you. And dont worry, you dont have to be a perfect parent and amuse your child all day long. It is ok to be bored some of the time. Little Johnny or little Suzie will grow up just fine if you dont play with them all day long. Sure, play with them from time to time, and of course, younger children will demand more of your time, but you should not have to play with them all the time, especially as they get older.

08-30-2006, 09:30 PM	#14
redforever Franchise Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Exp:	Now, if you wish to know my opinions about great toys to stimulate your children and get them to use their imagination. Lego - for both sexes of course. For those young children who really like movement, you can get motorized pieces to add in I believe. My son made all the Star Wars fighter space ships etc. Hand and finger puppets - siblings can put on their own little pretend shows, so can your child do so with other friends. Interactive books - by this, I mean the type of books with say holes for your kiddies fingers etc. Or books that have perhaps houses with moveable windows, and when the window is moved and opened, another charcter of the story appears. These are great for both bedtime stories and for playing by themselves. Puzzles - the pliable rubber types are great for toddlers. Or, the ones in a wooden sort of shadow box. Young toddlers will find it too hard to put pieces together in an open setting, they need something fixed around the edges to get them started. Construction toys - Tonka or Fisher price trucks, bulldozers, anything along that line, to be used in sandboxes, but also open outdoor settings and pretend indoor settings. My daughter and son played for hours with these type of toys in their sandbox. One xmas, my daughter was given a doll by one set of her grandparents, one that looked a lot like my daughter, and one that could walk. My daughter looked at it and said, but Grandma, I really wanted a bulldozer. Try to find and buy toys that your child makes work, not that batteries make them work. Get your son a real little hammer, like Daddy's, only smaller, with a metal head, not the plastic ones that they cant do anything with. Yes, you might have a few permanent indentations left around but at least they dont get frustrated from trying to build with a weak plastic toy. Once they have the small hammers etc, why not get a bird house kit and build a bird house? Younger children will need help of course. I mean, once you have the bird house, why not put it in a prime location, one that will actually get birds the next summer, and then your child will be able to watch the activity of birds, and hopefully see some young birds hatch. And why not put up some bird feeder to attract birds all year round. Musical instruments - I am talking things like a xylophone, small keyboard, flute, tamborines, comb and paper etc. Who cares if your child has any musical talent. Seeds - it is late in the year to start a lot of these right now but give it a go next year. Make sure for young children, you get seeds that germinate quickly. Their attention will soon be lost if you buy some seed that matures into a plant 120 days from the time you plant it. Try things like radish, lettuce, peas, beans. If you have a sunny outdoor area, even a small patio, put them outside next summer. If you have a hot sunny indoor area, plant them any time of the year. Now, they might not all bear fruit etc the size you would find in the store, but you should get something. You can grow lettuce all year round in front of a south sunny window. Plant some lettuce or mesculin mix in a flattish round container. When 3 or 4 inches high, snip with a scissor and let them make their own little salad. And if they dont snip right down to the ground, the lettuce will grow up again, and again, and again. Dress up clothes - have your own little tickle trunk and put fun clothes and other things in that you know your child will like. And keep taking some out and putting new stuff in for surprises. They will find lots of things to do to tickle their fancy. Board games - there are board games now for just about any age child. Of course, as the child matures, so can the type of game you buy for them. And try to buy a variety of games, some that are just plain fun and loud and silly and some that are serious and demand a mental challenge too. Ok, now you are started, the rest is up to you. And dont worry, you dont have to be a perfect parent and amuse your child all day long. It is ok to be bored some of the time. Little Johnny or little Suzie will grow up just fine if you dont play with them all day long. Sure, play with them from time to time, and of course, younger children will demand more of your time, but you should not have to play with them all the time, especially as they get older.