Toys, Toys, Toys

I grew up with two sisters, all of us just two years apart in age. We spent hours playing, exploring and of course, fighting from time to time. The toys we most enjoyed playing with didn't require batteries or have lights or all the bells and whistles. In fact, the toys we most enjoyed allowed us to explore, learn and create with our imaginations. 

One of our favorite toys was our toy kitchen. Our dad and grandpa built an amazing wooden kitchen complete with a fridge, an oven and a cabinet with a sink. We spent hours cooking, playing house, restaurant and, much to my dad's dismay, washing our hair in the kitchen sink when we decided to play hairdresser. Fortunately, we got caught before we managed to cut anyone's hair. The best part of this kitchen is that when my sisters and I started having our own children, my dad and grandpa made the same kitchen set for each of our families. My own kids spent hours playing house, cooking, restaurants and yes, even hairdresser, just like my sisters and I did! 

                                          My oldest playing with the original kitchen.

                                          My oldest and her grandpa ready to play with her 

                                          brand new kitchen.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a statement on toys. Their advice for parents is to choose "high-quality traditional" toys. Toys that engage children's imagination and invention and most importantly, toys that parents and children can play with and enjoy together. The co-author of the paper, Dr. Aleeya Healey, said, "The less bells and whistles a toy comes with, the more it lends itself to creative play and imaginative play." 

Toys like blocks and puzzles allow kids to manipulate the pieces and build fine motor skills, as well as, engage their thinking and problem-solving skills. Props like my kids' kitchen set encourage creative and imaginative play. Books that can be shared over and over again can spark children's play and imagination as well. There's no need to spend lots of money either. Anyone who has watched a young child unwrap an expensive toy and then play with the packaging knows that sometimes the best toys are free. Save your recycling. Let your child explore those boxes and just see what they can create!

So, what was your favorite toy growing up? Did you spend your time playing with Barbies or trucks and cars or building blocks or Lincoln Logs? Maybe it is time to track down some of those old favorites and share them with your child.