Some parents choose well-established or old-fashioned ways to inspire their preschool children, such as surrounding them with books and creative play. Books are great, not just to develop a love of reading in young children, but they also give the parent and child a special time together. Many grown-ups have treasured memories of reading a much loved book with Mom or Dad before going to bed. It is as much about bonding as it is about learning.
It's Never too Early to Learn
For creative play, simple and cost-effective felt boards provide many hours of fun for small fingers as they create their own stories, fully of bright creatures in their own special land.
Building blocks and Legos develop engineering skills, as kids learn how structures are built; they also get a sense of achievement when they complete a spectacular towering edifice. And these towers are great fun to knock down! These toys develop patience and thought processes as well as motor skills.
Have a box of craft materials such as glue, scissors (please ensure you supervise small children with scissors to ensure the dog doesn't end up with a new haircut!), glitter, paint, clay, crayons, colored paper, old magazines, birthday and Christmas cards, used wrapping paper, bows, ribbon and so on. Children can create something wonderful out of old socks, some buttons, paper bags, popsicle sticks and just about anything.
A box filled with old clothes, Mom's old make-up, junk jewelry, shoes and perhaps some costumes and accessories will keep an active little mind interested for hours, making up stories and acting out scenes from their favorite books and movies.
All parents know that, once a child starts to walk, they become little balls of energy. Toys such as tricycles, playhouses, sandboxes, swings, slides and climbing frames will give energetic little people an outlet to expend their energy and develop skills at the same time.
Toddlers have a natural curiosity but also have a short attention span so providing them with lots of different toys will not only encourage a variety of skills, it will keep them occupied. This is a perfect time to develop social skills by learning to share with others; your kids can learn manners, cooperation and teamwork, and develop the important skill of friendship.
Whether it's banging on a pot with a spoon or playing a real or pretend instrument, music is a fun way to learn. Short, repetitive songs and rhymes are great for kids and dancing along to music is good exercise. It is also fun and develops language, memorization and rhythm skills; it also helps expand a child's attention span. What's more, music enthralls young children.
When considering what toys to buy for tots, parents should ask themselves questions about the toy. How many senses does this toy stimulate? Does it light up, make noise or move? Is it colorful? What is it like to touch or smell? Will challenge or frustrate your child? Hard is good, challenging is great but frustrating is not. Does this toy encourage a child to be creative and make choices? Is there more than one way to play with it? What skills does this toy help your child to develop? Will it engage them? Is it durable and safe for their age group?
Some great stimulating outdoor toys for preschool kids are push-pull toys, pedal toys, sit-on and push-along toys, balls, swing sets and climbing frames. For indoor days, building blocks and Legos, books, felt boards and chalk boards, craft boxes, dress-up clothes, stuffed animals, dolls and boxes. Boxes can be transformed into cars, trucks, planes, ships, houses, and just about anything else, with a little bit of imagination.
A clever parent can even make cleaning up into a game instead of a chore. It is never too early to learn how to make chores fun!
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