Old-fashioned Inspiration for Your Children

Walk through any toy store these days and you will see walls and walls of toys that are loud -- toys that require batteries, have flashing lights, or that look like your child's favorite movie character.

But, what about those parents who want to raise children with imagination, inspiration and curiosity? I'll tell you what you do. You choose to fill your houses with some of the following old-fashioned items.

Books

No house can have enough books. I myself am amassing a soon to be respectable collection. Make sure your house has a representation of great Fiction Books and non-fiction books. A mix of the two is very important. Most homes have a deficit of non-fiction books, so fill your home with Science, History and Art books. Children need to learn to read and appreciate non-fiction books in order to do well in research when they reach higher levels of their course of study.

Blocks and Legos

Children can play for hours building towers, bridges, cities, creatures, and more with these toys that inspire creativity, patience, and small-motor skills. I still love to play with Legos 20 yrs later. When the masterpiece is finished, have your child pretend to be a giant or Godzilla and smash through the blocks -- or grab a few small cars and drive around the new city! Be sure to name the city and have your child tell you every detail about it that city. When I was younger I use to build my cities so that my superheroes could protect it.

Art Supplies

Give your child some crayons, scissors, junk mail, and glue. He or she will be entertained for hours if given encouragement. Please SUPERVISE closely if you don't want your child to have a self-induced bad haircut or attach the dog to their artwork!

Puppets Make

puppets out of socks, paper bags, felt, cloth, or popsicle sticks. Make a stage and tell stories. Get out the video camera and capture your child's brilliance!

Musical Instruments

Whether your musical instruments are home-made with a comb and wax paper, pots and pans or store bought, making music is a wonderful way to spend the day. Teach your child that music can be made from anything, from an old oatmeal container, to scratching two pieces of sandpaper together. Go on a walk and just listen to the sounds of the world -- music is everywhere in our lives, teach your children how to listen to it.

Dress-up Clothes

Get out old prom dresses, big hats, shirts and ties, old Halloween costumes (or buy extra pieces after Halloween for year-round fun!). Bring out a box of costumes and watch the shows with your children as the stars. Keep a camera handy to capture the fun. Also, keep an eye on the pets. Cats don't always appreciate wearing a sombrero.

Doll-houses

There is much fun watching your child make up stories as the family members move around in a doll house. Plus, if it is a wooden dollhouse, there is the added benefit of decorating it with some wallpaper scraps and carpet remnants! The dollhouse could be a family heirloom if you put enough love into it.

In the Kitchen

Kids love to play Kitchen, whether it is mixing air, or getting to play with food. Give your child a great time by giving them safe kitchen utensils to play with in the bathtub. Mixing, pouring, and scooping bubbles and water entertains my children long enough for them to look pruny.

So do Old-Fashioned toys have an advantage over today’s battery operated gizmos? I think everything has a time and a place, and everything has a useful purpose. However, being of the creative mind myself, I encourage you to turn the TV off and encourage the curiosity in your children. Spark there imagination and inspiration and watch them develop into wonderfully creative young adults.

For educational toys here is a great place for you to start www.JustSmartToys.com
For creative ideas for adults check out www.Strategies4Success.blogspot.com

Enjoy.