Upon walking into a toy store, usually my mind goes on the fritz and I have no idea what to buy. Does my little girl like balls, noise makers, dolls – what, in all of the abundant choices, would make her happy?
Well, as luck would have it, the non-toy toys are always the biggest hit in our house, so here’s a quick list of easy to make (or re-purpose) toys at home. These are for the inquisitive baby/toddler age 12 months to 2 years. Oh, and none of these ideas are new or even terribly inventive, just useful.
1) Spice jars filled with dried beans. It’s so easy to fill the jar (plastic or glass, though glass makes a better sound) with whatever dried substance you have. Any kind of bean will do, or even rice. Your baby will love the sound and by watching the beans shake, she’ll start to figure out how noise is made.
2) Pastry brush or wooden spoon. These are great for banging, sucking, smacking and any other type of permissible hitting exercise. (Be careful with siblings or pets around and this one needs a bit more parental supervision than others). And keep an eye on your baby – if they tend to shove the spoon down their throat then they are probably not ready for spoons.
3) Pots and pans. Whether baby sized or large, pots and pans are tons of fun for babies to make noise with, hide stuff in, and organize. This, for us, is an especially useful activity while I’m trying to cook dinner…we can all play in the kitchen together!
4) Tupperware or any plastic containers. We’ve dedicated a cupboard to all things plastic and whenever she feels like organizing and sorting, our little one heads over and starts in. We’ve left the child safety gadgets off of this cupboard so she can access it any time she wants – which, incidentally, also makes her feel independent and in control.
5) Stones. Now, this one might be a little tough to accept as a toy. Stones are hard, loud, and can easily break other things. Plus, you have to find a stone that is NOT a choking hazard, meaning the bigger the better. Just be sure to remove all breakable items from the play area. Smooth rocks are best as they have a really cool surface and typically are cold. And, as the baby holds it, it will warm up – a pretty cool lesson in temperature.
When thinking about what will entertain your little one, consider this – the entire world is new to them, so everything needs to be explored. Just because you know how a lid fits on to a plastic container doesn’t mean that your child does. And if they do, then it could open even more avenues of play – sorting, stacking and organizing. That’s good for at least a few minutes of play.
Most importantly, avoid any materials that stain, are sharp, things with loose pieces or threads (that can choke), anything that might be harmful if put in the mouth, and small choking hazards.
photo credits: top piotr zurek, middle Stuti ~, bottom banna123456
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