Parents on a budget should not
worry about buying expensive toys. Children learn just as well — and maybe even
better — when they play with household items and simple toys. The trick is to
see things “through a child’s eyes.”
Don’t throw away empty paper
towel tubes. Four-year-olds love to look and talk through them.
A stack of discarded envelopes
can be just the thing for playing “office.” And an old purse may be ideal for
toting a child’s treasures.
Children love to use paint,
crayons, pencils, and chalk to scribble or practice drawing. Cookie dough and
clay are great for making sculptures, letters, and shapes.
Other free or inexpensive things
that children love to play and learn with include:
• Aluminum
pie tins
• Wooden
spoons
• Balls
of all sizes (except those small enough to swallow)
• Sponges
• Measuring
spoons and cups
• Blocks
that stack or fit together
• Plastic
dishes
• Old
clothes for dress-up
• And
boxes galore.
Children can play with simple
toys in many ways. The best part is that there’s no one right way.
Exploring different ways to
play with a toy helps children be creative and solve problems. These are useful
skills for school success.
