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Category Archives: Playsets and Figures

Six Reasons Your Child Needs Pretend Play

Posted by melissa.t on December 8, 2011 1 comments

Pretend play in childhood is essential to development in social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Looking at the research, we can clearly see six reasons kids need to pretend play.

1. Better vocabulary
Courtney, S. (1999, Summer). Play matters.

2. Improves motor skills
Strickland, E. (2004). Developing motor skills-dramatically! Scholastic Early Childhood Today,19.3,9.

3. Better social skills
Elkind, D. (2007). The power of play. Da Capo Press.

4. Increases emotional maturity
Isenber, J.P.; Jalongo, M.R. Why is Play Important? Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development, Creative Development. Education.com

5. Increases self-control
Bodrova, E., & Leong, D. (2005). Why children need play. Scholastic Early Childhood Today 20,1. 6.

6. Cognitive (thinking) development

Gmitrová, V . (2003) The impact of teacher-directed and child-directed pretend play on cognitive competence in kindergarten children. Early Childhood Education Journal, (2003) Vol.30, No. 4, pp. 241 – 246.

Isn’t this so amazing?

And, pretend play is natural for kids! As parents, we can facilitate pretend play with toys that encourage imagination. Try not to give your child a toy that “does it all,” such as a doll with a television show or one that includes batteries.

Recommended Pretend Play Toys

pretend kitchen

pretend food

pretend cups and plates

pretend doctor’s kit

baby doll

baby doll crib

small fantasy and mythical figures

puppet theater

pretend tool set

dress up clothes

Of course, there are many more wonderful ideas for open-ended, imaginative play, these are just to get you started.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recently wrote that “The highest-scoring toys so far have been quite simple: hardwood blocks, a set of wooden vehicles and road signs, and classic wooden construction toys. These toys are relatively open-ended, so children can use them in multiple ways.” Read the entire article on the NAEYC website.

 

Magnetic Play for Toddlers

Posted by melissa.t on November 14, 2011 None comments

Make your own toddler magnetic play area with a metal cookie sheet. Magnet play teaches toddlers what “sticks” while developing their fine motor skills.

Note: I have older children so my photo includes our alphabet letters which are too small for toddlers. Remember to use large, chunky magnets with your toddlers – ones that are bigger than 2 inches in diamater. Examples below.

What Sticks?

Give your child magnets and non-magnets. Have him figure what sticks.

What Is Red?

Use the magnets to talk about colors.

What is Big? What is Small?

Have your toddler put on big magnets; then small magnets.

** Choking Hazards: Again, avoid magnets smaller than 2 inches across, or anything that could fit inside a toilet paper tube.

Make Your Own Magnets

Make your own magnets with photos of family members glued to card stock or photos of your child’s favorite things. Buy a magnetic sticky sheet or magnetic strips at a craft supply store and attach to your photos. Also, you can print directly onto Avery’s inkjet magnetic sheets. Those sheets can be found at an office supply store.

Toddler-Safe Magnets

Smart Max Set

 

Large Wooden Magnetic Letters 

Melissa and Doug Magnetic Dress Up Set

*for ages 3 and up

Magna Tiles

*for ages 3 and up

 

11 Fall Fun Ideas For Kids

Posted by melissa.t on October 3, 2011 None comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What wonderful ways can kids enjoy nature during the fall season? 

1. Go on a nature hike. Bring a collection bag to collect rocks, leaves, seeds, or fancy sticks.

2. Hunt for signs of fall. Take digital photos for a fall book. Or, draw what you see in your fall nature journal.

3. Leaf play, art, and writing. 

4. Make pinecone bird feeders. Watch and observe what birds like the peanut butter. Write or draw in your nature observation journal.

5. Decorate gourds and pumpkins with sharpies, paint, glue, pom-poms, glitter, ribbons, felt, or other craft supplies. Or, hollow out and use as a vase for dried flowers.

6. Make chocolate chip pumpkin muffins – my kids' favorite pumpkin treat.

7. Rake leaves into pile and JUMP!

8. Visit an apple farm or a pumpkin patch.

9. Collect sticks and build a fairy house or tunnel.

10. Learn about letterboxing – an outdoor treasure hunt throughout the United States and world.

12. Stargaze and learn about the night sky in fall.

What other fall activities does your family enjoy?

Play Scenes Invite Imagination

Posted by melissa.t on September 8, 2011 2 comments

Kids love, love, love animals, right? And, playing with animal figures with props and a pretend scenario isn't just fun for kids, it develops their brains, socio-emotional skills, and is a key predictor in future success.

Introduce your kids to play scenes. Set up a play scene, a collection of objects for a fun imaginative play time. Look how Christie from Childhood 101 sets up a tree house play scene. Or this beautiful fairy garden with tiny doors from the blog Irresistible Ideas for Play Based Learning.

Invent your own play scene. Often I add plastic animals to the sand box and invite my daughters to see what's there – and watch as their imaginations begin to develop play scenarios.

Wouldn't it be fun to set up an African animal play scene? Set out an elephant, ostrich, gnu, gazelle in a small box or tub with some accessories – leaves, rocks, and other small props.

What other play scenes can you imagine?