The New Baby Answer Book: From Birth to Kindergarten, Answers to the Top 150 Questions About Raising a Young Child by Robin Goldstein & Janet Gallant

Author:Robin Goldstein & Janet Gallant [Goldstein, Robin & Gallant, Janet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Family & Relationships, Infants & Toddlers, Parenting, Life Stages, Health & Fitness, Child Rearing, Pregnancy & Childbirth
ISBN: 9781402218279
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2009-03-01T08:20:20+00:00

interested in a new plaything for several weeks and then loses

interest. This is common, although it may be disturbing if you’ve

spent time and energy shopping for the right toy, one your child said

he “wanted so badly.” He loses interest for several reasons: he may

have quickly exhausted all the toy’s play possibilities, he may have

mastered the toy, figuring out how it works, or he may be frustrated

because it isn’t made well or is difficult to use.

To get more use from your child’s discarded but almost-new toys,

put them away in a closet for several months. When you take them

out, they’ll seem unfamiliar to your child, and he may become inter-

ested in them again. He may even think of new ways to play with

them, since his interests and his play are always changing.

They often play out real experiences or feelings. In pretend

“school,” a child can be the teacher and fantasize about having

control. “You need to stop talking.” “It’s time to hear a story.” When

they play house, they take roles that make them feel comfortable.

One might choose to be a decision-making parent, while another

wants to be a baby who cries and needs nurturing. Superhero play

lets children feel strong and powerful. Some parents object to imagi-

nary violence; however, pretend fighting games are a normal part of

play. If parents are watchful, such games won’t get out of control.

Many kids get involved in big, dramatic projects—building a fort,

designing a haunted house or a house out of blankets, putting on a

puppet show, or creating a garden. They thrive on these activities

and proudly show off the results.

If your child has an interest in such projects, offer him support. If,

for example, he wants to build, help him find materials. He’ll make

good use of large boxes, scraps of wood, sheets, and blankets. Once

he’s carried out a large project, he’ll feel successful and competent.

In one neighborhood, five-year-olds wanted to put on a play.

Parents provided dress-up clothes and paper and paints, and

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Imagination, Creativity, and Play 141

the children spent time preparing and rehearsing. In another

neighborhood, several kindergarten children and their parents

used scraps of wood to build a playhouse. When the kids finished

their project, they not only had a playhouse, but a strong sense of

satisfaction and accomplishment.

What are some good homemade toys?

Although stores offer a multitude of toys, you can create kits and

playthings that provide enjoyment and encourage your child to be

creative. The following are suggestions for games, toys, and gifts for

two- to five-year-olds. The kits take time to assemble, but probably

no more time than searching stores for the “right” toy. And your

child will have fun helping you put these playthings together and

decorating storage boxes with crayons or contact paper. Choose

materials that are appropriate for your child’s age and supervise as

he plays.

Art Box

In a plastic or cardboard shoe box, place any of the following

supplies: colored pencils, magic markers, crayons, chalk, yarn, string,

pipe cleaners, watercolor paints with brushes, small sheets of paper,

a small canvas, glue, tape, tissue paper, felt, scraps of fabric, a ruler,

old greeting cards, Popsicle sticks, strips of cardboard or balsa wood,

scissors, and a hole puncher.

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