Unplug Your Kids
At Heirloom Wooden Toys, we love kids and love to see them playing in the real world!
Studies show that kids are happier and healthier when they spend lots of time engaging in active play, playing outside, and playing with the people who love them the most -their families! We think natural materials and toys that encourage imagination help kids to understand the world they live in, and that is really what their "work" is - every day. We've created this list of suggestions for you to get involved in the REAL world with your kids of all ages!TEACH YOUR KIDS TO COOK
Even very young kids love to "help" Mom or Dad in the kitchen. Give them wooden spoons, play food and unbreakable bowls at first. When they're a bit bigger, let them measure ingredients, crack eggs, whisk and stir, taste and pour. They'll learn about measurements, temperature, liquids and solids, chemistry, math, nutrition and so much more -every session is a science lesson! Cooking might take a bit longer (or a lot longer!) but it's an incredibly rich learning environment. Take a look at our Learning Tower (item number LP00406) for a safety stepstool that lets kids participate while safely contained. When kids are ready, take on some really fun and involved projects, like making pasta, tortillas or bread from scratch, canning vegetables or fruit, making jam or even cheese!
DO PUZZLES TOGETHER
We have many puzzles with lots of possibilities, for example the pieces of our ColorificEarth Alphabet Parade (item number Imag-10015) each represent a letter, color, and animal. Take it apart, play with the animals, then put it back together! Or try Guidecraft's 3-D Feel & Find (item number G5060) - deal out the puzzle tiles and have children reach into the bag to "Feel & Find" the corresponding wooden shape.
PLAY WITH WOODEN BLOCKS
Blocks are an essential toy for learning about balance, gravity, structures, and have unlimited play value -limited only by imagination. Plus they last forever! My kids play with the blocks I had as a child, and my son loved to attach the super long ones to his feet with duct tape and "ski" around on the carpet. I had never thought of that one! We have many different sets of beautiful hardwood blocks to choose from and lots of accessory blocks. These include lovely colors and different shapes that enhance play and keep kids interested. Check out the Toys/Block Play pages at www.HeirloomWoodenToys.com.
PLAY MUSIC
Percussion instruments (drums, maracas, tambourines, etc.) are the easiest for young kids to play. (See MD-488 for a fun "Band in a Box" or just use cardboard boxes and wooden spoons. Make a shaker by filling a toilet paper or paper towel tube with dry rice or beans and cover the ends with masking tape.) Sing your favorite songs and let the kids tap out the tempo. They'll learn about rhythm, coordination, and it's so much fun! Older kids enjoy instruments that are made just for them, like our Music Maker lap harp (item number EE001). Kids from about age 5 or 6 upward can play lovely music on the first try! We also carry a complete selection of Schoenhut toy pianos. Some have the classic chime sound of a toy piano and they also have several string pianos for an authentic piano sound. Each comes with a music book and color strip for easy and successful music making.
PLAY GAMES
Even very young kids can learn to play games -just keep the rules really simple and non-competitive to start. We have some great balancing games like Stormy Seas (item number HP897533) and Balancing Monkeys (item number PLAN53490). You can start by just seeing what happens when you add the pieces, then later add the structure of a cooperative game ("Let's see how many we can add before it falls over!"). Even later, add a competitive element ("Let's see who makes it fall over!"). Or just see what your kids make up! We also have a great selection of classic checkerboards, cribbage sets, mancala and Chinese checker sets beautifully handcrafted from Maple and other hardwoods for older kids and adults. (See product numbers 50241, 50321, and 50010 for some examples.)
GO OUTSIDE
* Play catch, hide and seek, "Duck, Duck, Goose" or any classic games you remember.
* Plant some tomatoes and lettuce, then eat the salad. Try making jam if you have a fruit tree.
* If you have access to a lemon tree, pick a bunch and make homemade lemonade.
* Put up a bird feeder and see what kind of birds show up. Walk to the library to look up what kind of dinner guests you have at your feeder.
* In the hot days of summer, fill some baking dishes with water and some small toys (tiny plastic animals work great), then freeze. Take the ice blocks outside and let the kids try to get the toys out -put the ice blocks in the wading pool, use measuring cups to pour warmer water over them, use small sticks to chisel away at the ice. Refreshing and fun!
* Lie on your backs in the grass, close your eyes, and try to name everything you can hear.
We have some great outdoor products on HeirloomWoodenToys.com. Check out our no-pedal Balance Bike from Smart Gear (item number SG312G33). It's designed for toddlers to get the feel of a "real" bike while gaining confidence since they can have their feet on the ground. No training wheels necessary! We also carry Radio Flyer wagons and trikes, and beautiful handmade wagons from Mountain Boy Sled Works in Colorado -walk to the farmer's market and cart your veggies back in a wagon! Also check out our new selection of indoor and outdoor Teepees from Dexton to stimulate creative and imaginative play!
ONE FINAL THOUGHT:
Kids today spend a lot of time in front of screens -tv and computer at home, computers at school, tvs in the doctor's office waiting room and restaurants. Let's make sure they get plenty of time in the REAL world too! One final suggestion we'd like to make is that when your kids do watch tv (we know it's going to happen!), make a rule that the mute button gets pushed when a commercial comes on. Don't let a corporation tell your kids what kind of cereal or toys you should buy! Teach them to decide for themselves with YOUR help, not the help of a marketing executive who is really only out to sell more products.
Thanks for taking the time to read this! We hope it's been helpful and informative. If you have any questions, please give us a call or drop us an email, we'd love to hear from you!
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