Less is MORE: Toy Selection for Preschoolers

DUMP SCORE!

I found this wooden box of blocks at my local dump!

Ok, I admit it, I LOVE finding free stuff, especially at our local dump. As I was dumping my “way too full” trash, I saw this crate of wooden blocks, I have these exact blocks at home, but I grabbed them for one of my families.

Today I brought the blocks to that wonderful family (they have 3 children, 2 under 4).  The kids were so excited to start playing and building with the blocks and the Mom said, “I love these kinds of toys where the kids can use their imagination without it being in the cookie cutter way”. Brilliant!!! 

Bells, batteries and whistles vs. Blocks. 

The best way to choose activities to promote speech, language and cognitive development:

1) The best toys are not “toys” at all!

Oftentimes, regular everyday items that you have in your home make the best activities!  

• Think about covering a table or chair with a blanket. Bingo, it’s a cave for a bear, the bottom of a pirate ship or a tent for camping. This simple activity can target many goals to increase spontaneous expressive language.

• Grab some spoons, cups, pots and pans. Cook a pretend dinner, make some music, have a tea party!

  2) YOU (the adult) make a fantastic toy. 

• Sing songs

• Play peek-a boo

• Play hide and seek (with your self or items in your home)

• Bump your child up and down on your legs

  3) Using active play is always fun

• Run to the door and back

• Throw pillows off the bed and on the bed

• Hide under and behind furniture

  4) If you or your family buy toys, try to stick with the oldies!

  Some great ones are:

• Wooden blocks

• Balls and ball ramps

• Toy train tracks/ trains

• Doll houses with furniture and dolls

• Tea set

• Play kitchen and pretend food, cups, plates etc.

• Dolls, clothing, blanket 

• Dress up clothes  

• Potato Head

• Play-do with rolling pin and cookie cutters

• Puppets

• Books, books, books (books promote play, language and learning)

5) If you have tons of “bells and whistles” toys, consider swapping them out.

Maybe have one noise making toy out at a time with an “open ended” toy to balance. Those lights and noise making toys can be fun and can have a place in play, just have less at one time and balance their use. 

A study from the University of Toledo in Ohio (2017) pointed out that “an abundance of toys present reduced quality of toddlers’ play.” Having fewer toys can lead a young child to focus and engage in more creative, imaginative play, according to the study. Fewer toys, it turns out, result in healthier play, and, ultimately, deeper cognitive development. (Psychology Today December 2017).

SO……. have fun, keep your eyes open at the dump :-) and PLAY!!!!