I blame it on Target, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and dads (yes dude, I'm looking at you). Well-meaning to be sure --but the mess, the clutter, the overstuffed drawers full of junk. Sparkly pens, princess wands, silly bands that somehow wind up in my underwear drawer.... Now, I am not saying my daughter does not absolutely love the $2.00 mini Cinderella lunch box (full of erasers cause we couldn't think of what else to put in there) or the bathtub basketball set up. But what toys should be in that chest? What toys will alleviate boredom, support creativity and imagination? What toys stay the course and remain interesting across time and not just when they are new (or when you are about to chuck them?).
TRY THIS: A toddler's (1-2) toy chest should have (this is the short list so I guess there's always stuff): balls, blocks, bubbles, dolls (and doll accessories - I can wax poetic about the hours of focused uninterrupted play an 18 month old can spend changing a baby's diaper and strolling from one side of the room to the other), cars and trucks, duplos, bowls (unbreakable), wooden spoons, play dough, pots and pans, puppets (old socks), puzzles, and some picture books.
NOT THAT: An old iTouch
WHY: The aforementioned items serve to support active, creative, socio-dramatic, imaginative play AND cognitive development. Kids can rehearse new roles and behaviors, cook, read (emergent literacy = interpreting picture books), stack, build, and learn how things work. Be selective.
Interested in the toy chest or arts and craft drawer for a preschooler or grader schooler...drop me a line.
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