Parenting Tip - Free Toys

My daughter-in-law always has such fun ideas for keeping my almost 2 year old grandson busy.  And they're free, too!  Here is a video showing an indoor "slide".  Very clever.  She happened to have two tables set up in the front room, but you could do this same idea with one table leaning against the couch or elevated with a box.        

Speaking of a couch--couch cushions are a really fun toy for children to play with (that is if you don't have an expensive elegant couch).  They can stack the cushions, spread them on the floor, jump on them, slide down them, etc. The ideas they come up with are endless.

   

 Another free toy is a wet wash cloth or spray bottle.  Toddlers and preschoolers LOVE water.  And with the water in this controlled version, they can wash the cupboards, mirrors, floors, anything their little hearts desire.  

When you really feel at your wits end and need something to occupy your child, spread out a cloth, get a container of rice or beans, scoops and bottles, and let your child explore this medium by pouring and scooping and dumping.  Caution:  this can become a disaster quickly, so supervise your child so he doesn't put things in his mouth that he can choke on, or dump the whole container on the carpet.  Ouch!           

Look around your house.  There are toys galore.

Thanks for reading,

Cathy

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