As I said in this post about the best stimulator for our kids, and the importance of ‘play’ as in this post, so it is so important if we are serious about early development, to create a good atmosphere for our kids to play and learn. For some parents who are afford to get their children expensive and branded (plus safe) toys, this could not be problem. Summore they could send their kids to any playschools, activity schools and so on. But for parents who can’t afford that much, it is not an excuse to stop working on our kids’ brains and bodies, as those so called interactive and development toys are just ‘a tool’.
Actually, the best toys to play with our kids is not placed in the supermarket racks. In fact, it is available around us. Everything in our house is the best toy indeed, if only we knew.
When I don’t buy toys for my kids, it is not to say that I am prohibiting them from the best activity for children’s development – to play. Playing is not only stated in the modern theory as the best stimuli, but also practiced by Rasulullah SAW. He even played with his grandchildren and other kids in the neighbourhood.
These are among activities we usually had in our house, suitable for kids around Hafiy’s age (1-2 years old).
1. Bowling Mini.
Use several empty mineral water bottles and a ball. Arrange the bottles according to bowling pins and show the child how to throw the ball and make all the bottles fall down. If rajin, can paint the bottles to make them look more interesting.
2. Play with flour (only if the flour is expired. tepung mahal wooo)
Instead of let the child play with talcum powder, which is very small in particle and has possibility to pass trough his nasal channel and goes straight to his lung and it’s extremely dangerous, let him play with flour. Flour has bigger particle, and safe.
3. Animal Games
Make movements like animals do. i.e. leap like a frog, hop like a grasshopper, slither liek a snake, etc.; make animal sound, i.e. moo like a cow, chip like a bird, etc.
4. Nature Walks
It doesn’t necessary to go out and talk a serious walk. We just have it in our houseyard, watching birds (crow?), trees, sky, clouds, etc.
5. Housekeeping Play
Join them to do house chores, like sweeping the floor, washing the dishes, arranging the books, etc. Make it fun by competing among each other, i.e. who do it faster, nicer, cleaner, etc.
6. Fill Empty Containers
Usually we do it with pail at our back balcony. I fill a pail with water and Hafiy empty it by filling another pail. It’s water fun!
7. Point and Tell
I ask him one object and he has to point at repeat what I say.
8. Find dolly
Hide his favourite objects and ask him to find them out.
9. Imaginary Toys
Use other objects to replace toys, e.g. use small box to as a car, big box as lorry and pretend like playing with car and lorry.
10. Balloon Indoor Soccer
Use balloon to play soccer in our living room. It si safer than ball, since ballon won’t drop anything down and easier to be kicked.
I wish I had pictures of them playing, so that I can include them in MomBloggersPlanet’s Cutest Baby with TOY(s) Contest, LOL. Maybe next time
In a nutshell, it doesn’t take any cent nor expensive toys to make our children enjoy and learn, at the same time encourage their motors and brain development. It just need a little creativity to turn what we already have at home into a fun, great game. All children deserve the same opportunity, regardless their parents status – have money or not, stay in big city or not, educated or not. Don’t stop providing the best learning experience for our children, even if by not sending them to some expensive schools/activity centres/stores, because or home is their best schools/activity centres/stores.
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