Children love toys. Don’t they? We spend so much money especially at this time of the year buying so many big, brightly coloured all singing all dancing toys... and then our children completely ignore these and play with the empty boxes.
Sometimes the best toys are not toys at all. They did not come from the toy shop, it did not come wrapped in pretty packaging, and did not promise any kind of “educational” benefit to your child. These “non-toys” are sometimes what your child will play with for a much longer period of time, use in more creative ways, and cost you much less money! These are the toys that allow your child to explore and be curious.
Engaging your child using their interests is the best way to teach communication skills. The “toy” in the play can be anything – including YOU! Your child may be interested in balls, bubbles, bricks, cars, trains, food, sticks, or empty boxes. These interests can be used to teach things like imitation, joint attention, turn taking, requesting objects and actions, learning to communicate….
Here’s a few ideas of how to use everyday items in play....
Empty boxes and containers: Boxes are a firm favourite for lots of children. Anything you can push, pull, fill and dump. Empty boxes and containers fulfill ALL of these requirements. Think plastic food containers, toy boxes, tissue boxes, water bottles, laundry basket and plastic bins of any sort.
Bucket with a handle for collecting “treasures” while you’re at the park, woods, the beach or in the garden.
Boxes from all your Christmas deliveries can be turned into castles, cars, boats.... the possibilities are endless.
Kitchen roll, tin foil tubes or wrapping paper tubes: ..items for the recycling bin can FIRST be used as.... binoculars, telescopes, logs for a campfire, ramps and tunnels for small balls and cars. Attach a few tubes together for a marble/ ball run. Use them as oars in your empty box boats or attach them to the back of the “boat” and make a sail or flagpole.
Plastic cups: Stack it, decorate it, use it for target practice with bean bags, or wear it as a hat… the plastic cup could be your favorite non-toy toy.
Use it as a pull toy – Punch a hole in the bottom, pull a string through that hold and tie it up in a big knot so it doesn’t come back out. For extra noise making fun, fasten a small bell to the knot inside the cup and you have instant pull toy your little one can create noise with all over your house! Ready, set, GO!
Hearing your own voice as an echo is pretty fun and can be motivating for little ones to practice lots of sounds when they hear their own voice – amplified!
Sort items into the cups by colour, category, shape, initial sound, etc.
Torches: Turn the lights off, or just dim them, and get out a torch! Make shadow puppets or just shine the light around the room and let your child see their toys and familiar surroundings in a whole new way! Name what you find and wonder aloud what you might find next. Hide favourite items or pictures around the room and play hide and seek games. Put the light on the floor and have your toddler try to “stamp” on it before the light moves away.
Cushions and pillows: for soft landing zones, for obstacle courses, for fort building, as stepping stones or for a game of peek a boo.
Junk mail or catalogues: cut out pictures of interest. Make a collage, play posting games, sort pictures by category, initial sound...
Or best of all.. when it comes to early communication – YOU are the number one toy. Your time is the best gift you can give your child. Have fun interacting and engaging with your child this Christmas.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 🥳