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LEARNING TOYS ON THE CHEAP You don’t need light-up alphabet blocks, talking globes or fancy science kits to spark a kids’ imagination. Inexpensive toys you put together from everyday objects can be all they need to help them learn and grow. I know that some of my children’s favorite playthings have come from the hardware store or the grocery, not the toy shop. One mom I know, a former teacher, says she never found pre-made kits as impressive inside as their boxes made them out to be. When it comes to learning toys for toddlers, many early childhood experts opt for hands-on play over fancy devices that teach numbers and colors. They believe younger kids get a better foundation for life by exploring how the world works, rather than prepping for academics. And primary-school aged children may get a better grasp of math by applying it around the house using simple tools you design than from electronic quiz machines. As for older kids, they often appreciate the gift set that’s been created with their interests in mind – especially if it provides a chance for some interaction with you. Preschool educator Bev Bos is one big proponent of “real” versus “plastic.” In her Roseville Community Preschool in California, kids paint the playforts, take apart appliances, build with PVC pipes, and mess around with water, ice, dirt and various gooey substances every day. “If it hasn’t been in the hand and the body, it can’t be in the mind,” says Bos, a frequent lecturer around the country, including the Capital District. Don’t demonstrate, advises Bos, just let your imagination run wild when it comes to doing things in a new and different way and your kids will follow your lead. “You just need to think all the time,” she says. “Be as creative as you possibly, possibly can.”
For slightly older kids, my friend Rena, an artist and handywoman with a background in early childhood education, took a cue from Montessori education when coming up with do-it-yourself play ideas for her son Brandon. One of Brandon’s favorite toys were bead chains, 10 medium-sized beads strung on a stiff wire. Ferioli made 20 of these, and he used them to measure distances all around the house. Chains of 2, 3, and 4 beads were used to demonstrate the concept of multiplication – three bead chains with two beads each equaled six beads. Ferioli also made her own geoboard, which has nails arranged in different geometric shapes and colored rubber bands to stretch on them to create interesting mathematical patterns. For a color mixing kit young explorers could use on their own, Ferioli put together small containers of red, yellow and blue paint and food color, plastic see-through paddles to look through and combine, and several cups containing two different colors of playdough in various combinations. She also created cards with two different dabs of color and a plus sign to suggest possible mixes, and a simple book on color mixing (one possibility is “Mouse Paint” by Ellen Stoll Walsh). Kids who like to build will enjoy a collection of Styrofoam balls, cones and other shapes in different sizes. Toothpicks or pipe cleaners can be used to connect them. For giant-sized construction, PVC pipes from the plumbing department of your local hardware store can be cut down to two-foot lengths and attached with connectors used to make towers, robots, and scary insects. Leave two or more ends open for a phone system that stretches across the yard or basement. Kids who like to build will enjoy a collection of Styrofoam balls, cones and other shapes in different sizes. Toothpicks or pipe cleaners can be used to connect them. For giant-sized construction, PVC pipes from the plumbing department of your local hardware store can be cut down to two-foot lengths and attached with connectors used to make towers, robots, and scary insects. Leave two or more ends open for a phone system that stretches across the yard or basement. Or let your young inventor brainstorm with small motors, buzzers, lights and wire from an electronics store like Radio Shack. (Ask a salesperson if you need help making sure the voltage is compatible with the batteries.) The book “Electric Gadgets and Gizmos: Battery-Powered Buildable Gadgets That Go!” by Alan Bartholomew can give you ideas. Stow in a tool box for easy-to-store portability. Finally, think about passing along an old family skill. In a wicker basket packed with fabric scraps, buttons, trim, needles and thread or brightly-colored yarn, include a card good for sewing or knitting lessons from you. Your kids will love knowing you put some thought into picking a gift that would stretch their minds. Rena’s Playdough Recipe 2 cups flour Put oil and coloring in water. Add dry ingredients and knead. Lasts a long time in an air-tight container. © 2007 Kathy Ceceri |
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Copyright © 2009 Kathy Ceceri
