There has been a lot of talk on our facebook page recently about simplifying our playrooms and toy collections. It is exciting to share this journey with other parents who are asking many of the same questions. Which toys to toss? Which to keep? Which toys really inspire creative play?
The most valuable suggestion I took from the chapter regarding toys is this: The best toys are open-ended. Open-ended toys are not locked into any one role (i.e., “dinosaur” or “police car”), but they can become many different things. Open-ended toys allow the child’s imagination to take their play in any direction they dream up. After focusing on this (with regards to our toy collection in the house) over the last couple of years, I can testify that this really has revolutionized the way my kids play.
There are many examples of great open-ended toys, but these are a few of the favorites in our house:
1. BLOCKS
All kinds of blocks! I ordered our first set of unit blocks three years ago and I can say confidently that this is the best toy purchase we’ve ever made. Blocks grow with the children, so they are not tossed out in a year when they become boring. My two year old loves stacking them, and my 4 year old loves creating with them….castles, pirate ships, restaurants, car washes, marble runs, zoos…you name it, these blocks have played the part! These are used daily in our house, and I don’t see them losing the boys’ interest any time soon.
We found some tree blocks on etsy to add to our block bin last year — these are what you think, literally just sanded down pieces of fallen trees. They add some great natural texture and interest to the kids’ creations. These, too, have been everything from pirate’s cannons to kings and queens.
One other type of block (which pairs well with unit blocks) is a montessori-style rainbow block we found recently – the boys love building with these translucent blocks in the window light and mixing the colors they cast.
2. DRESS UP CLOTHES
Again, we’ve found that the “open-ended” rule definitely applies here! We have some costumes that are pretty specific (i.e., “policeman”), and those are nice, but almost invariably, when my son goes to dress up, he comes out in a nondescript scrap of fabric I have in his dress-up bin, as a character he’s created all on his own. See, it’s fun to be a policeman, but a simple navy play silk allows him to be “Midnight Worm” – or whatever else he imagines that day. Dress up clothes don’t need to be expensive! Large scraps of fabric, play silks, wigs, bandanas, second-hand clothes from the thrift store – all excellent choices to inspire open-ended play.
3. HOMEMADE TOYS
You don’t have to be a DIY queen (or king) to make these happen. A homemade batch of play dough has hours and hours of fun to offer – and truly can become whatever your child imagines!
My son recently needed some little men for a castle he was building, and he drew his own on index cards and we made little cardboard stands for them. That might seem silly, but they have had prominent roles in his last three creations, as knights, kings, pirates, and restaurant workers. They’re starting to look a little beat up now, but he cherishes them as much as any store-bought toy we have.
More and more, I’m encouraging my little guys to create their own toys – When they need a boat, they know they can fold one out of paper. When they need a parachute, they reach for the coffee filters and yarn, and they know they have all they need to create one. I hope this will nurture an inventive spirit in them and a can-do attitude that will benefit them all their lives.
Open-ended toys give children freedom that other toys don’t. With this freedom and possibility, play becomes a sacred time, a meditative time, something your child can truly be lost in as they create things that no Disney movie or toy store could ever dream up! Open-ended toys allow the child’s unique ideas to shine through – and provide an opportunity for you to witness your children’s own unique brilliance each time they sit down to create.
Perhaps you have some other favorites in your home – please share what your favorites are, especially those of you who have older children!
Here are some other articles on simple toys you may enjoy!
Toys that Encourage Creative Play – Written by Jennifer Donohue of the Parentmap
Old Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills – Written by Alex Spiegel of NPR
Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control – Written by Alex Speigel of NPR
Smartest Toys Can be the Simplest – Written by Liz Szabo of USA Today
Traci lives near Austin, Texas with her husband and two little boys. You can visit her blog, Educated for Love, or see the visual daily rhythm charts she makes at A Kid’s Day.