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