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