Archive for February 15th, 2010
Back in the 1950’s my dad built me some wooden shelves so I could play shopping. My playmates and I would often shop in our grocery store and to this day I like to go food shopping.
Creative play is an important learning tool for children and they need all the open-ended play time they can get. Setting up a grocery store that is not as permanent as the one I had in my basement can be built with ImagiBRICKS toy blocks. These giant cardboard building blocks can be purchased online and come in red, orange, purple, green and timber-look.
The kids in your neighborhood will help you collect empty cereal boxes, cans, pasta boxes, asprin boxes, diaper boxes, etc. Design your store with the toy blocks then place your products on your shelves.
Get together and price all your cans and boxes and make some carts out of old boxes. Kids will have a ball shopping in their very own store and this pretend game will help provide them opportunities to learn organizational skills, mathematical skills and important problem solving skills.
Children can take turns collecting the play money and giving change. After they have finished shopping each child can load his purchases in a wagon and go to her own “house”; which could also be built with the building block toys.
Let it snow! It’s fun to go out side and play but when you have to stay in parents can organize some fun inside activities that do not involve electronics or expensive props.
Kids love zoo toys and animals so why not play a game about elephants. Pretend play is a fun activity for everyone and opens up creative play to help children develop self esteem.
To go for an “elephant walk” get the children in one long line. Everyone is to stretch one hand each back through their legs and, with the other hand, take the outstretched hand of the person in front. The children will be lined up, attached like elephants holding trunks and tails. Move to slow music.
Elephant Soccer- Children get into a circle with legs wide apart. Hold their arms down in front of them with hands clasped together for trunks. Roll a ball across the circle trying to get it between someone’s legs. Use only your trunks to keep the ball from going through your legs.
Besides active animal games provide your children with zoo related children’s learning toys such as a Zoo playset by ImagiPLAY. This wooden kids toy comes complete with a bright Zoo entrance with two large parrots and eleven hand painted zoo animals this play set will open up many teaching opportunities for indoor play.