Welcome to One Thing Thursday, where I share one thing you can do to boost your child’s development.
Do you ever look at your child’s toy box and think, “We really need some new toys”?
Yep, been there.
I know it’s tempting to put all the toys out there and give them lots of things to play with. But what’s the problem? The toys get old. Your child gets bored with them. You get bored with them. And from a learning standpoint, your child’s brain kinda stops being challenged after engaging with the same toys over and over again. Practice is good, but too much of the same means their brain doesn’t have to create new “motor plans” in order to figure out how to engage with a new or unfamiliar toy.
So try this one thing: Divide your child’s toys into two or three groups and rotate them every week or two. This will keep your child’s brain stimulated and it will keep you from feeling like you need to go to the toy store and load up on new stuff for your little one.
While there are certainly times when new toys are necessary (like when they are ready to move from infant to toddler toys, or they have graduated to preschool toys), many of your child’s toys can last for longer than you think. And you know what happens when you bring out that box of toys that you’ve been hiding for the past few weeks or months? It’s like Christmas…for you and for them!
So try picking out some toys for the week, and switch things up on a regular basis. You might find that you get more creative with what you offer as “toys” (like bowls, mixing spoons, strainers, and other things around the house). It will be good for both you and your child!
