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Old Fashioned Toys Make Kids Smarter
Toy stores nowadays are filled with noisy toys, complete with bright lights and children’s favorite TV and movie characters. These toys seem to move and talk of their own volition. Sadly, all a child has to do is to sit and watch the toy – much like watching TV.
Some of us want our children to use their imagination and peak their curiosity while playing. So instead of toys that run on batteries, we provide our children with old-fashioned toys that require children to act on, engage with and interact. Here are some old-fashioned toys that fit the bill:
Books
As someone who has owned more than 1,000 books at one time (I have since given or sold some to create more space in my small home … for new books!), I can say that you can never have too many books. Build a collection of books made up of fiction and non-fiction. These should include books about science, history and art. Children who develop a love for reading – both fiction and non-fiction – will find it easier later in life to do the research needed for higher levels of study.
Felt Toys
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Felt toys encourage children to make up their own stories and tell these stories to others. There are many felt board sets available in stores, both online and offline. Or you could make your own by attaching a large sheet of felt on a board and cutting out felt characters and objects. Craft and fabric stores carry felt in different colors. They’re easy to cut into different shapes. Add features with markers or fabric pens.
Building Toys
You can’t get any more traditional than building blocks and their modern counterpart, Legos. Children of all ages (and even adults) can easily spend hours upon hours building anything from houses, cities, bridges, modes of transportation – the only limit is their imagination! Blocks and other building toys stimulate creativity, teach patience and collaboration, and develop fine motor skills. Plus, kids have a blast smashing their creations onto the floor.
Arts and Crafts
Provide the basic materials – crayons and markers, paints, colored paper, play dough, old magazines, scissors, glue and other found objects – and let your child’s imagination run away with it! Avoid pre-packaged craft sets that can only be made into one specific object. Instead, make the activity more open ended by allowing the child to CREATE. Remember, though, to supervise your children closely and make sure all your supplies are non-toxic.
Puppets
Puppets, whether homemade or store bought, can stimulate creative story telling. You can use story telling to explore feelings and issues that your child may find difficult to talk about. And don’t forget to videotape your child’s performance.
Musical Instruments
Music is an important part of a child’s development. Studies have shown that learning to play the piano or keyboard improved preschoolers’ performance in math later in their academic careers. So there’s much to be said about learning to play a musical instrument. Start their musical preparation early by making homemade musical instruments and just having fun creating rhythm, exploring sound volume, or simply making noise!
Dress-up Clothes
Build up your collection of dress-up clothes by filling a large box with old Halloween costumes, various kinds of hats, old neckties, prom dresses, and uniforms. Add to your collection by looking in garage sales and used clothing stores. Once in a while, put up a fashion show or dress-up show at home.
Doll Houses and Dolls
Doll houses encourage children to design spaces and make up stories. Wooden doll houses, in particular, allow the child to decorate using paint, scrap paper and other stuff around the house. As for dolls, I love soft dolls made of fabric with details that are either painted on or embroidered. They are safe for children and super cuddly.
Kitchen and Tub Play
Let your children mix flour and water or cornstarch and water (to make goop) while you’re baking or cooking. Not only will you get some “free” time, your children will also start learning physics and chemistry concepts. Give them some bowls and wooden spoons to play with. They’ll make noise or pretend to cook – just like Mommy.
In the tub, kids will enjoy filling and pouring water from old containers, or watching how a sponge absorbs water and then releases it when squeezed. There are paints and crayons made for tub play, or you could make your own by mixing washable tempra paint with powdered soap.
Whether in the kitchen or tub, be prepared to clean up a lot of mess afterwards!
These are just some ways that old fashioned toys can make your children smarter, more creative and hungry for learning. Next time you’re shopping for toys, whether for your own children or not, check out these old fashioned toys. They are fun and better for children’s minds than battery operated toys that can do everything (except cook breakfast).
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