- Old-Fashioned Ways to Inspire
Children
- By Nicole Dean
"Walk through any toy store
and you will see walls and walls of toys that are loud -- toys
that require batteries, have flashing lights, or that look like
your child's favorite movie character. What is there for parents
who want to raise children with imagination and curiosity? I'll
tell you what we do. We choose to fill our houses with the following
old-fashioned items.
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Books
No house can have enough books.
Make sure your house has a representation of great fiction Books
and non-fiction books. A mix of the two is very important.
Most homes have a deficit of
non-fiction books, so make sure your home is filled with Science,
History and Art books. Children need to learn to read and appreciate
non-fiction books in order to do well in research when they reach
higher levels of study. |
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Felt Boards
Children love to tell stories
with felt. You'll need a felt board to start. You can make your
own board from a sheet of felt or purchase a board.
Once you have the board, let
the fun begin.
StoryTeller, at http://www.felt4fun.com/ , has a great line
of products -- felt sets, felt books, and so much more. The quality
of their products is excellent. Visit their site to get a sample
and feel the thick felt yourself. Be sure to check out the dolls
with the felt clothing that sticks to them. My daughter loves
these!
Also, go to a craft or fabric
store and buy sheets of felt in all colors. Then, cut out shapes
in all colors and sizes. (You'll be amazed at how quickly a child
will make an alien, ship, house, or person out of nothing but
a few circles, rectangles, and triangles.)
Blocks and Legos
Children can play for hours building
towers, bridges, cities, creatures, and more with these toys
that inspire creativity, patience, and small-motor skills. When
the masterpiece is finished, have your child pretend to be a
giant and smash through the blocks!
Art Supplies
Give your child some crayons,
scissors, junk mail, and glue. He or she will be entertained
for hours if given encouragement. Please SUPERVISE closely if
you don't want your child to have a self-induced bad haircut
or attach the dog to her artwork!
Puppets
Make puppets out of socks, paper
bags, felt, cloth, or popsicle sticks. Make a stage and tell
stories. Get out the video camera and capture your child's brilliance!
Musical Instruments
Whether your musical instruments
are home-made with a comb and wax paper or store bought, making
music is a wonderful way to spend the day. Teach your child that
music can be made from anything, from an old oatmeal container,
to scratching two pieces of sandpaper together. Go on a walk
and just listen to the sounds of the world -- music is everywhere
in our lives.
Dress-up Clothes
Get out old prom dresses, big
hats, shirts and ties, old Halloween costumes (or buy extra pieces
after Halloween for year-round fun!). Bring out a box of costumes
and watch the shows that your children put on for you. Keep a
camera handy to capture the fun. Also, keep an eye on the pets.
Cats don't always appreciate wearing a sombrero. Trust me, I
have the scars to prove it!
Doll-houses
There is nothing more fun than
watching your child make up stories as the family members move
around in a doll house. Plus, if it is a wooden dollhouse, there
is the added benefit of decorating it with some wallpaper scraps
and carpet remnants! Your dollhouse could be a family heirloom
if you put enough love into it.
In the Kitchen
Kids love to play Kitchen, when
it is mixing air, or getting to play with food. Give your child
a great time by giving them safe kitchen utensils to play with
in the bathtub. Mixing, pouring, and scooping bubbles and water
entertains my children long enough for them to look pruny. Or
for a fun alternative, give them puffed rice cereal and some
bowls and utensils on the kitchen floor. Just plan to vacuum
afterwards as there'll be quite a wonderful mess! |
