| A trip to the local toy store can overwhelm a parent | | | | Buy books or read online for ideas for craft projects, |
| with the wide expanse of high-tech playthings. What | | | | and keep plenty of supplies on hand. Always stay |
| parent hasn't been driven to near madness by the | | | | well-stocked with construction paper, glue, paint, and |
| repetitive squeal of some battery-operated toy? | | | | fabric. Craft items such as pom-poms and pipe |
| Some such trinkets are even marketed for babies and | | | | cleaners are also nice, but you can usually make do |
| toddlers, ripe with packaging that desperately tries to | | | | with the creative recycling of items around the home |
| persuade parents that no baby can be soothed | | | | such as toilet paper tubes and paper plates.Explore |
| without the singing, flashing, or vibrating of the latest | | | | Your World |
| innovations.You need not break the bank nor blow a | | | | Any exploration of the natural world is science to a |
| fuse to create a fun and nurturing environment for | | | | child, answering the 'what' and 'why' questions of the |
| your child's play. On the contrary, some of the best | | | | world. Go on nature walks, and collect botanic |
| toys and games for your child are low-tech, | | | | materials for crafting and studying. Consider a pet, |
| economical, and can be enjoyed by children of all | | | | make a home volcano or homemade silly putty for |
| ages.Books | | | | some introductory lessons in chemistry. Even watching |
| Your child doesn't need to know how to read - or | | | | a drop of food coloring in water can be a foray into |
| even talk - to enjoy a good book. You can even read | | | | the world of science for a young child. If you need help, |
| to an infant, but many children are capable of enjoying | | | | books and web sites are rich with ideas for parents |
| books independently from the time they can sit | | | | looking for kid-friendly experiments.Creative Movement |
| unassisted. For babies and toddlers, keep an | | | | Make sure plenty of movement-oriented toys are |
| abundance of sturdy cloth and board books accessible | | | | kept outside, such as jump ropes, hula-hoops, and |
| on a low shelf. Even randomly pulling books off | | | | sidewalk chalk for hop scotch and other outdoor |
| shelves and examining them without opening them is a | | | | games. Take trips to the park with friends and stay |
| start. Books with clear pictures of objects and animals | | | | informed of community events and recreation. Many |
| can really help foster good language development, and | | | | cities offer low-cost classes for children such as |
| when reading to your young child, choose those with a | | | | gymnastics, swimming, dance, sports, and martial arts. |
| sing-songy cadence. While books with gimmicks and | | | | Local botanic gardens, wilderness parks, and zoos are |
| sounds can be fine in moderation, traditional books are | | | | also a great low-tech, low-cost way to get some |
| best at building a love of reading. For older children, | | | | exercise.Family Time |
| slowly expand their library to their interests and | | | | Consider making the the dining room a TV-free zone, |
| attention spans, and made reading a special part of | | | | and use the time to talk, tell stories, and laugh together. |
| the bedtime routine. To build a large collection of quality | | | | Consider having each parent put aside special "alone |
| children's books, visit library book sales and accept | | | | time" with each child to help reconnect and stay |
| plenty of hand-me-downs.Open-Ended Toys | | | | involved. Play plenty of simple board and card games |
| To help raise a child that is inventive, inquisitive, and | | | | to teach your child about rule-following, human |
| curious about the world, build up your toy collection | | | | interaction, and good sportsmanship. And on the next |
| with open-ended items. Open-ended toys are toys that | | | | road trip, limit your child to one video, and use the rest |
| can be played with in multiple ways, and appeal to | | | | of the time to enjoy story-telling, song-singing, and car |
| multiple age groups. You'll also find these are often the | | | | games.Of course, battery-operated toys, television, and |
| most economical toys that can also enjoy the greatest | | | | video games are fun, too, but don't let them exclude |
| longevity in your home. Building blocks, legoes, simple | | | | other kinds of play that are pivotal in the development |
| dolls and figures, basic cars and houses, and dress-up | | | | of your child's sense of curiosity, physical health, and |
| items are all good examples of open-ended toys. Limit | | | | emotional expansiveness. It is easy for a child to |
| toys that rely on batteries or that are themed to a | | | | become absorbed by these toys, and even easier for |
| particular movie or TV-show.Arts, Crafts, and Music | | | | a parent to simply enjoy the peace that results, but by |
| By creating an environment that encourages your | | | | approaching your child's play with a sense of |
| child to explore the arts, you are encouraging her to | | | | awareness and balance, you will assure a more |
| develop her creativity. For independent play, make | | | | vibrant, creative, and happy home.Jennifer Johnson is a |
| available plenty of drawing paper and crayons, | | | | mother of two children and the primary contributing |
| draw-and-erase toys, toy musical instruments, and | | | | editor of - a quality site filled with free craft ideas, |
| make or buy your own play dough. You can further | | | | recipes, and resources for parents. |
| encourage creativity by working on crafts with her. | | | | |