My love for magnetic tiles continues...

Challenge: Build the tallest structure!

Challenge: Build a structure you can go inside!

Challenge: Build an igloo!

Challenge: Build a fort for yourself!

But, actually, I did not give my kiddos any challenge at all! That's the beauty of toys that foster creativity and use of your imagination. Sometimes there isn't a challenge. Sometimes you dump some toys, items, crafty supplies, etc. out on the floor and see where it takes them!

A Balance Board

I am always on the hunt for toys that engage for hours. I want my kids using their imaginations and creating. I had seen so many parents rave about these wooden balance boards, but I never realized just how open-ended they could be. My kids are WAY more creative than I am!

My kiddos, who are 1 and 3, have made slides, boats, bridges, homes for their animals, caves, and so much more. You need to monitor the young ones - my one year old has bopped his head on it once or twice. Overall, I see growth in gross motor skills, determination, perseverance, collaborative play, and just sharing a toy! Not an easy feat for toddlers!

I've Said it Before and I'll Say it Again - The Pure Joy of Having a Box is UNMATCHED.

We order from Boxed. Have you heard of it?

I live kind of in the middle of nowhere and I love bulk shopping. Like, love it. When everyone was hoarding toilet paper at the start of the pandemic, I was totally fine because I naturally keep every single bathroom fully stocked and have an extra 30 pack in the basement just in case. I also happen to love saving money, so buying in bulk is a way to do that in the long run.

Anyway, I always drove out to BJs once every few months to stock up on essentials. Then the pandemic hit. I was pregnant and not about to go into a big store surrounded by tons of people, so I cancelled my BJs membership and discovered Boxed. It doesn't have quite the selection, but they deliver! To my door! No more leaving my house and hauling giant, heavy boxes to my car! So, I love it.

And here we are. A Boxed delivery means my children have access to the world's biggest boxes.

For this box, we used markers to draw inside. We drew a scene and on the ground was a pond with fish and of course my one-year old swam in it. 

I have set my kiddos down in the box like a playpen, thrown some markers and paint sticks inside and let them go nuts for a while. Do we need a bath afterwards? Yes, usually. But I can also make dinner without worrying about the one-year old trying to twist the knobs on the stove, so I call that a WIN!

Anyway, I think it is important to remember that expensive toys are NOT always where it's at. A plain old box from an awesome online bulk supplier can do the job, no problem. Well, the only time it becomes a problem is when my three-year old hoarder child decides to literally fill that box with everything she owns for no reason. And then put a chair on top and sit on it. But that's my problem. 

Just give kids a box. That's it. Save your money.

Seriously. I have spent A LOT of money on toys in my life. Wonderful, open-ended, purposeful play-type of toys, all highly recommended. But you know what really entertains? A box.

A box can be a fort. 

A box can be a canvas for artwork.

A box can be a ride.

A box can be a boat.

A box can be ANYTHING kids can imagine. And it's GREAT play! 

When we get a massive order in a giant box, my kids immediately come and help me unload everything. It makes my heart happy that they like helping until I realize that they are only doing it to get to the empty box faster. Which is okay, too, because then I get to witness the toddler imaginations at work and it really is a beautiful thing. 

Sensory Play: Have you heard of FLOOF?

My three-year old routinely tells me that what she is doing is "sensory play." She's pretty smart and uses this as an excuse to make a mess, basically.

Anyway, FLOOF is a little messy and it is definitely sensory play. :)

It comes in a bucket, and it smells so amazing. Your hands are pretty clean after using it, not terribly messy unless they were wet or sweaty, then the Floof sticks a bit.

My kiddos can make designs, sculptures, cakes, etc. They talk through the imaginative play with each other, and I make them stay at a table. Even so, some fall on the carpet and I've vacuumed it up, no problem.

So, if you are looking for an alternative to play doh or kinetic sand, this seems like a really engaging option (that literally smells like marshmallow.).

Purposeful Play: Kids Learn Through PLAY! STEM at its finest.

Looking for some STRUCTURED purposeful play?

Learning Resources has you covered.

I have used this great STEM activity with primary grades...and with my own 3-year old. (It is meant for ages 5+ but younger kiddos can have success with some support.)

Kids are tasked with designing and building a playground. They can build something completely creative and unique, or they can use the challenge cards that provide some scaffolding to design the elements pictured.

It's so much fun!

My kiddo loves building a structure (her words) and then taking the little fake plastic people it comes with to test out the sturdiness of her structure.

So, if you are looking for a quality and engaging STEM activity, check out Learning Resources for their Playground Design kit!

THE NUGGET!

I'm telling you - the Nugget has been, HANDS DOWN, the best Christmas gift I have ever bought for my kids, who were 1 and 3 when we first got it.

It is purposeful play at its finest. Open-ended play - I am always surprised by how the kids use this Nugget! It can be a couch. It can be a fort. A book nook. A slide. A ship and the floor is water. A bridge, a bed, a foot rest, and so much more!

I originally wanted a Nugget for my classroom. I have seen so many teachers with Nuggets as a part of their classroom library and love it. Now that I am an instructional coach and interventionist, I don't have kids in my room as much, so there wasn't a need. But at home? Yes. BIG NEED!

So, if you are looking for an addition to your classroom library or something to entertain your own kiddos for hours on end, look no further! The Nugget is seriously where it's at!

Benefits of PUZZLES

Why incorporate the use of puzzles into your child or students' day?

There are plenty of benefits!

- mental exercise

- visual-spatial reasoning

- attention to detail

- improve memory

- increase your IQ

- improve problem-solving skills

- better collaboration and teamwork

- increased productivity

...and the list goes on!

Currently, my kiddos at ages 2 and 9 months, use wooden puzzles almost every day. They love them! My 2 year old has also graduated to 70-100 piece puzzles. Our favorites are the Mudpuppy brand of puzzle. She has Mudpuppy puzzles about the USA (She has learned a lot of states this way), animals in the African Savannah, woodland animals, rainforest animals, and more. I highly recommend these puzzles. They are beautiful, engaging, and an excellent learning resource. They come with information sheets on the animals.

So, go grab some puzzles on Amazon or a local yard sale! They're great for purposeful play!