It can be easy to be won over by advertising or peer pressure, and feel like you have to provide your children with the latest gadgets and toys. But while the latest technology and trends might provide some short term excitement, don’t overlook the simpler, more traditional, toys. There is a reason why they have been popular for such a long time!
Complicated toys can be frustrating – for both children and dads! When a complex piece of electrical engineering goes wrong, there maybe tears and tantrums. It is most likely an impossible task to fix the many LED lights or motorized whizz-bangs that have broken. Some of the more complex toys also guide play, leaving less room for imagining—that wonderful activity that’s natural to kids, and entirely healthy for them.
A
doodle book can be far superior to a colouring book. Not that those aren’t great. But a blank book, or one with small drawing prompts, can allow your child to express their feelings, frustrations, and fantasies in full crayon glory.
Blocks: Ah, the joy of building, destroying, and building again. By blocks we mean anything from the basic wood jobbies to Lego sets. A castle of blocks isn’t just a castle: it can be anything your child can imagine!
Bears are cosy and cuddly, and great for bedtime: plus they will always listen to you, never tell your secrets, and make great guests at tea parties and mini motor rallies.
Tea sets aren’t just for girls. Almost anyone, young or old, boy or girl, can acquire a taste for imaginary tea.
Here’s
a recipe for play dough. The virtue of making your own is that you can pick your own colours and scents using non-toxic food dye and essential oil. Top tip: remind your family that non-toxic does not mean edible.
Playing with
action figures can answer the eternal question: Who would win in a fight: warlike Action Man or the peace-loving Doctor? Let the kids’ settle it for themselves in epic, imaginary combat.
Other ideas include:- Child-safe torches
- Costume boxes with old clothes
- Kaleidoscopes