I'm back! It's been a crazy, busy summer, and I've missed making time to write... But here I am!
Last week, while the munchkin crew and I were visiting my parents, they were having a ball watching my dad change out a tire that had a hole too big to repair. We had recently been camping, and the campground had a climbing structure made out of semi tires bolted together. They thought it was the coolest toy ever. So, of course, they asked if we could bring this tire home. After getting the ok, we loaded it up, and they are having a blast with it. They roll it across the yard, flip it, step on it, sit in it... It has become one of their favorite toys, and they are looking forward to getting a few more when we can look through the other old tires at the farm.
This prompted me to start thinking again about all the things that provide awesome learning and play opportunities, but aren't actually toys. So, I thought I'd share a list of my favorite non-toy toys. :)
As I mentioned, old (clean-ish) tires are great toys. They can prompt some interesting, imiganitive dramatic play, large muscle work, team work opportunities, and problem solving skills. They can be pushed, stacked, climbed on, rolled... The possibilities are only limited by a child's imagination.
Another fabulous non-toy is a set of measuring cups and/or spoons (or two or three), and something to scoop with them. They require fine motor work to manipulate, and encourage math and science exploration.
Scraps of fabric are a favorite of my children. Any time I am sewing they are right there, asking for just about any scrap of fabric I snip off. Some are tiny, some are long, but all are fair game. They use them for baby doll play, for stuffed animal props, as jewelry... The scraps are included in just about any play they do. I am toying with the idea if making a sensory bin with just fabric scraps in it, and see what they do. :) Should be interesting.
Boxes. You know how they say babies are more interested in the boxes their toys come in, than they are the toys themselves? They're right. And it's true for more than babies. My 7 and 5 year olds love adding empty boxes to their play any time they find one. They become doll beds and garages with equal enthusiasm.
Dry beans, dry rice, dry pasta, shredded paper, poms or cotton balls, gel/water beads, aquarium rocks, and any other similar material not mentioned are great for sensory play. Learning through sensory play is a powerful motivator for young children. It engages them on multiple levels, no matter what you choose to fil your sensory bin with.
Empty spice containers and cereal/pasta/rice/etc. boxes are great additions to kitchen or cooking dramatic play. They lend a touch of realism to a child's play, and allow them to mimic you- their greatest teacher.
There are so many more things that children can use to enrich their play, things you might not even think of as toys, but that will give your child hours of fun and so many opportunities for learning. When it's safe, allow your child to check out the treasures of non-toy toys- and see the difference it makes in their play.
Happy play time!
