There are some toys that are classics and never go out of style. As a Mom and former preschool teacher in northern Michigan I discovered that certain toys stood out as favorites. These toys allowed the children to use their imaginations, they were not terribly expensive and none of them required batteries!! Here, in no particular order, are the top favorite toys from my unscientific study!
Blocks Whether wooden unit blocks, cardboard brick blocks or Legos, children would play for hours with all kinds of blocks. They would build structures, make roads, or plan cities. There is really no “wrong” way to play with blocks. And the children were always very proud of whatever they built.
Sand and water play These two mediums cost virtually nothing, yet provide hours of contented amusement for children. A sand or water table along with plastic buckets and scoops offer good tactile experiences for little kids.
Dress up clothes Dressing up is another wonderful imaginative experience for children. They love to role play and having an outfit to go along with whatever they are pretending just adds another dimension. Plus it is relatively inexpensive to acquire dress up clothes by shopping at Goodwill or any thrift store.
Paints Whether watercolors, finger-paints, or easel paints, paints allow for plenty of creative and imaginative play. Children can learn about color and mixing colors as they create wonderful masterpieces of refrigerator art for parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.
Books There are many terrific children’s books available today. My preschoolers used to carry their favorites around with them to read throughout the day. There are lots of sources for books—libraries, thrift stores, book sales and book exchanges with other parents. For an unending supply of books, check out your local library. In Manistee County the Library is located at 95 Maple Street. They also have puzzles, puppets, children’s magazines—it is a great resource!
Play-doh Children love the tactile experience that play-doh or clay provide. It allows children to develop their fine motor skills and use their imagination, too. Homemade play-doh is inexpensive to make and less crumbly than the store bought kind.
Toys should help a child use their imaginations, provide many hours of entertainment, improve motor skills or cooperative skills and be a lot of fun. The simple, yet pretty low cost suggestions above fit the bill.
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