Blogging About Toys, Child Development & Creative Play
Our Toy Story Blog emphasisizes the developmental aspects of children and discusses the appropriate selection and application of toys for your child. We keep up with the latest in what's going on in the toy industry and feature certain educational toys, furniture and clothing from our selection of quality brands.
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One of the most important things to me as a Mommy is creating memories for and with my children. I don’t know why this means so much to me, but I have lots of little things that I do to help them have good memories of their childhood.
This is really a hidden memory that my girls will have in the future. Since I knew our first child was on the way, I began writing letters to her in a journal.
One of the most important things to me as a Mommy is creating memories for and with my children. I don’t know why this means so much to me, but I have lots of little things that I do to help them have good memories of their childhood.
Red Plate is one of my girls’ favorite activities. Each member of the family has a medium sized red plate. I picked them up at different times and places so they don’t all match.
My girls cannot get enough of books. They all love to listen to us read books to them. My oldest is finally old enough and reads fluently enough to read to her little sisters and they absolutely love it. The oldest still likes to have us read to her, especially chapter books. What’s the secret? Our house has always been filled with literature.
We have read to our girls since they arrived in our house. Even as a baby, my oldest had her favorite books, Clifford.
This past month I found another creative game by Blue Orange Games. I have always loved their products, but this game is just so flexible that I couldn’t resist sharing some ideas on how to use it both at home and in a classroom.
Tell Tale is a story telling game that builds creativity the more it is played.
What a wonderful time of year we are entering. The cooler air makes me want to open the windows and make warm apple cider. It also makes me think about all the time I will have with my kids over the next few months. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, we need things to do. I asked the girls what they wanted to do together and here are their top choices.
Go to the park. That’s easy; a trip to the park or riverbank in town always makes them happy and wears them out for a while.
Sometimes a creative idea hits me and I just want to share it. I had a brainstorm of an idea to create cookbooks for each of my girls that would include personal memories of cooking together. The whole project began when I found a create-your-own recipe book that had 4X6 recipe cards held in sleeves, just like photos in a photo book (I found them at Lakeside Collection). Each page of the cookbook holds two recipe cards, or one recipe card and a standard sized photo.
What an amazing toy company! I just discovered Red Toolbox toys. It is a line of DIY projects perfect for children. They have different levels of ability and the age range they recommend most projects for is 8 and up. Projects include table top air hockey, soccer table, mini basketball hoop, bird feeders, jewelry cases, mini billiard table, catapult, greenhouse, rubber band racer, mini golf accessories, photo display disuse box, newspaper stand, remote control stand and treasure chest; just to begin with.
I used to be against the entire idea of playdoh in my house. It gets stuck in carpet and furniture. It dries into little hard lumps that pierce the bottom of your foot if you are not paying attention. Kids just want to mix up the colors and then I have eight containers of green/brown playdoh that nobody wants to play with anymore. I know many parents who feel the same way about it, but there are ways to make it work even if you are a neat freak.
At one time the thought of traveling with children was just daunting! There is just so much stuff to remember and every trip we took there would be something important we would forget at home. Now that my girls are older, I have a system that works for our family.
Bathroom things are always the most difficult for me. I dislike filling up those little travel size bottles after each trip, and would often forget so we would be on a trip with empty bottles.
Puppets are an often looked over category of toy. Puppets are a wonderful way to help children extend their imaginative play. Puppet play is open ended, creative and fun. It can also build on some very important developmental skills.
Language Skills
Puppets allow children to make up their own stories or retell familiar stories. Both of these activities are good language builders and help children work on story sequence and meaning.
Parents are always looking for ways to give their children an ‘edge’. Parents often ask me what they can do to help their child succeed in school. Be involved, read to your child, talk to your child, all the standard responses come out so easily. But there are things that parents can do that don’t come naturally to them to help their child be prepared for school. Fine motor skills is one of the areas that children can always make improvements, and these skills will be important for a lifetime.
Playdoh is such a wonderful activity for children! They can learn so much from manipulating and working with this wonderful substance. Make it even more fun by having your children help make the playdoh.
Hey Koolaid Playdoh
Need:
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 package unsweetened Kool-Aid
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 cup water
Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar and Kool-Aid in a medium saucepan.
Cheesits
1 stick soft margarine
½ lb. mild cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup flour
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 dash salt
1 dash red pepper
Mix all ingredients thoroughly in bowl. Make into small rolls and chill overnight. Slice and bake for 10 minutes in a 425 degree oven. Makes 4 dozen.
Fruit Shake
Combine in a one quart plastic container:
2 cups cold juice (such as orange, pineapple, or grape)
½ cup powdered milk
1 drop vanilla
Add crushed ice and shake until melted.
Use of Community Resources
Check into library programs for young children, and try to attend some appropriate ones with your children. Some libraries offer storytelling hours, arts and crafts activities, seasonal programs, etc. Also investigate local hospital-affiliated Parenting Centers for activities and information on parenting. Some centers offer support groups for parents of children with special needs, or for parents/siblings who have lost a family member.
Meals
Make mealtime an enjoyable part of the day as often as possible. Eat together as a family, without the company of the television or radio. Encourage conversation from all family members – meals provide a great opportunity for language development. Your children will also watch you eat, and will imitate the table manners they see used most often; meals are a good time to informally teach feeding skills.
I am a very strong believer in learning by doing. I build my classroom around providing activities for my students that will get them involved, make them think and stretch their imaginations. As a parent, I strive to provide my children with as many experiences as possible.
If your child asks about the weeds (or grass) in the yard, plant a garden. Even just planting a variety of seeds in a window box planter can be a great learning experience.
Every big skill a child learns can be broken down into smaller pieces. We tend to naturally teach children the steps to a process but some skills are more difficult to break down. Working with students who have special needs, I break down skills for most of what I teach. Using a scissors is no exception. Scissors skills are important for all children and these small steps can be used at whatever rate your child can progress through them.
It’s time again to take out the science activities and get working with the girlsJ This one is growing crystals with materials you will have around the house. The only thing you may need to purchase is bluing, typically available in the laundry aisle of your local store.
Father’s Day is coming up and I have been thinking a lot about building family memories with our children. This morning we woke up to a hard rain and it brought me back to my own childhood and building tents in the living room. What a great time we had as children living out our imaginary lives inside these tents. So today we began inserting that memory into our girls’ childhood memories.
I began by bringing out all of the extra sheets and blankets I could find.
What do I buy for a child with poor fine motor skills?
I work with young children with disabilities. I love my job and don’t know what else would make me happier than seeing the amazing growth my students make each year. Shopping for children with disabilities can be difficult. You want to get an age appropriate toy though some of them might not be appropriate for the developmental level of the child. Purchasing a baby toy for a six year old may be considered rude even though it is more appropriate.
Stages of Development: Written Language 2 to 7 Years Old
Children progress through specific stages of development in most areas. These are like levels of learning that they must master before moving on to the next level. We can encourage children to try new things to help them move to the next level but it is developmental, it cannot be forced. Today we will focus on written language. I have the information broken down into age ranges. Remember that these ages are not set in stone, all children progress at their own rate.
Children progress through specific stages of development in most areas. These are like levels of learning that they must master before moving on to the next level. We can encourage children to try new things to help them move to the next level but it is developmental, it cannot be forced. Today we will focus on reading. I have the information broken down into age ranges. Remember that these ages are not set in stone, all children progress at their own rate.
Children progress through specific stages of development in most areas. These are like levels of learning that they must master before moving on to the next level. We can encourage children to try new things to help them move to the next level but it is developmental, it cannot be forced. Today we will focus on oral language. I have the information broken down into age ranges. Remember that these ages are not set in stone, all children progress at their own rate.
Stages of Development: Motor Skills 3 to 5 Years Old
Children progress through specific stages of development in most areas. These are like levels of learning that they must master before moving on to the next level. We can encourage children to try new things to help them move to the next level but it is developmental, it cannot be forced. Today we will focus on motor skills. I have the information broken down into age ranges. Remember that these ages are not set in stone, all children progress at their own rate.
Stages of Development: Math Skills 2 to 6 Years Old
Children progress through specific stages of development in most areas. These are like levels of learning that they must master before moving on to the next level. We can encourage children to try new things to help them move to the next level but it is developmental, it cannot be forced. Today we will focus on math. I have the information broken down into age ranges. Remember that these ages are not set in stone, all children progress at their own rate.
Stages of Development: Block Play 2 to 5 Years Old
Children progress through specific stages of development in most areas. These are like levels of learning that they must master before moving on to the next level. We can encourage children to try new things to help them move to the next level but it is developmental, it cannot be forced. Today we will focus on block play. I have the information broken down into age ranges. Remember that these ages are not set in stone, all children progress at their own rate.
Stages of Development: Art With Children 3 to 9 Years Old
Children progress through specific stages of development in most areas. These are like levels of learning that they must master before moving on to the next level. We can encourage children to try new things to help them move to the next level but it is developmental, it cannot be forced. Today we will focus on art. I have the information broken down into age ranges. Remember that these ages are not set in stone, all children progress at their own rate.
Choosing quality toys shouldn’t be a difficult thing to do. Remember some simple guidelines to help you select a toy that is not only loved but appropriate for the child it is intended for.
Durability: It’s easy to go for the inexpensive toys. The problem with some of these toys is that they are not made very well and won’t stand up to the ‘love’ of a child. Some children are very hard on toys; take this into consideration when selecting toys.
Why is it that every holiday seems to have it’s own candy now. Even the 4th of July now has red, white, and blue M&Ms. My girls and I did a fun science experiment with candy after Halloween for the past two years.
You will need:
Cups/containers
Water
Candy
Cookie sheet
Directions:
Place cups on cookie sheet and fill about half way with water.
I am not sure how or when it happened, but math seems to scare many teenagers and young adults. The percentage of students who enter college and are required to take remedial math classes is staggering. Reports range from one-third to over one-half! We can’t fix everything by the time your child is five years old, but you can instill a mathematical thinking pattern.
Count with your child: Count steps as you walk up them, cars that drive past your home, toys, cans of soup at the toy store, Christmas cards you receive.
Spring is a great time to have a picnic! It’s not too hot out and the ants haven’t figured out the best places to look for food yet. But does creating a memorable picnic really have to be so much work? Is there a way to get the kids involved and even sneak in something educational? Of course there is!
Begin by planning what you want to eat at your picnic. Have your child(ren) participate in this planning phase and they will be more involved in the rest of the activity.
Spring is a great time of year to enjoy the outdoors with your family. The weather warms up, nature begins it’s magic anew, and it begins to stay light longer in the evenings. Looking for some fun, inexpensive ways to enjoy the outdoors? Think about some of the simple things you did as a kid. We get so caught up in scheduled activities that it is easy to forget about some of the simple pleasures of childhood.
Walk or Ride Bikes to the Park: Walking or riding your bike gives you a different experience from riding in the car.
Top 5 Things To Look for When Choosing A Gift at the Toy Store
1. Safety and Age Appropriateness- I always want to look out for the child’s safety first. This is obviously important if you are buying for a little one. Remember, children 2 and under put EVERYTHING in their mouths! It is one of the main ways that they learn about the world around them! If you are purchasing for an older child with a baby or toddler sibling, do the family a favor and avoid anything with small parts.
Some people are naturally inclined to fiddle, you might even do it. Do you fiddle with a pen, tap your fingers, cross and uncross your legs? In order to listen some people just have to move. When you force a child to sit still and listen, the majority of her concentration is on sitting still. She has to concentrate on sitting still in order to sit still, therefore, she is not listening, but she is being still. Purpose is defeated.
Active indoor or outdoor games like Hide and Seek, Musical Chairs, Hot Potato, help keep a child moving, active, and laughing while providing healthy competition. An all time favorite activity is to play catch with Mom or Dad. And, if it is left up to a group of children to do what ever they want, they will usually start running and jumping around….don’t we wish we could harness some of that energy.
For family fun, board games and card games are a sure winner.
Hmmm, let’s see what happens when your child play with blocks. She sorts the blocks by shape and size and experiments with how high blocks can stack before they tumble and fall. She learns cause and effects of placing smaller or larger blocks on the top or bottom.
His structure might be a tower, a fort, a truck or a house, or anything his imagination desires. The structure might be the focal point of his play or a prop.
Directions:
