Home » Living » Turn household objects into toys for young kids

Turn household objects into toys for young kids

Globe-Miami (Nov., 2019) – For anyone who’s ever seen a baby, toddler or preschooler open a gift and then toss aside the shiny new toy to instead play with the box, the American Academy of Pediatrics says kids may know what’s best for them.

The organization recently came out with a recommendation that the best toys for young children are the simple ones. And we’re talking very simple, like every day household objects.
First Things First reminds parents that children explore and make sense of the world around them through play. In fact, research has shown that play impacts everything from physical abilities and vocabulary to problem solving, creativity, teamwork and empathy.
Playing with ordinary household items allows a young child to explore their world and found objects. With babies, it’s as simple as grasping an object and holding on to it. Families can focus on introducing objects that stimulate curiosity. Babies are fascinated by their surroundings, especially faces and bright colors. You can use something as simple as a small, lightweight scarf to play peek-a-boo or use it as a prop as you make up stories. By adding music to the scarf play, you can get your baby moving and sharpen their listening skills as you give directions.
For toddlers between 1 and 3 years old, look for objects that encourage imagination and problem solving. They enjoy playing hide-and-seek with different objects. As a toddler, your child may begin to arrange objects, which eventually turns into sorting and classifying them. This allows the child to develop thinking, reasoning and problem-solving skills.
For preschoolers from ages 3 to 5, look to use objects that will help preschoolers relate to each other and the world around them. Encourage their imagination by creating a pirate’s telescope using a paper towel roll.

First Things First offers these 10 suggestions on every day household objects that can be used as toys that promote early learning:

Plastic cups – can be used to sort items.
Toilet paper rolls – tape two together and create binoculars for a game of I Spy.
Whisk – babies love to hold whisks, but as your child gets older you can use a whisk in the bath to swirl the water or make patterns in the sand.
Cardboard boxes – depending on the size, boxes can be used in a variety of ways. Facial tissue boxes make excellent building blocks to build towers.
Plastic containers – use to sort items by color and size, take them into the bath to pour water.
Leaves – rustling leaves outside. Let your toddler walk through a pile of leaves. They’ll enjoy the rustling and crunching sounds underneath their feet. For preschoolers, they can paint the leaves and use them to make patterns.
Screw-top plastic water bottle – fill with pasta or beans to make a shaker. Or use them as bowling pins, to knock down with a ball.
Pots and pans and wooden spoon – teach your toddler about rhythm by banging on the pots.
Laundry basket – use to throw rolled-up socks or have them use their imagination to sit inside and drive a car or steer a boat.

Everyone’s favorite: old blankets, sheets and towels – use to build an indoor or outdoor fort.
To encourage imaginative play at home, parents and caregivers only have to look around the house to keep little ones entertained.

###
About First Things First – First Things First is a voter-created, statewide organization that funds early learning, family support and children preventive health services to help kids be successful once they enter kindergarten. Decisions about how those funds are spent are made by local councils staffed by community volunteers. To learn more, visit FirstThingsFirst.org.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *