Are family and friends asking what your little one wants for the holidays or birthday? If so, why not offer some of these simple ideas. Three reminders would be: watch for choking hazards, think ahead, invest in items that will grow with your baby and make sure they are open ended toys (toys with more than one purpose) to fuel creativity.
1. Balls: Try making your own, find “how to’s” on-line for working with felt or fabric. If you’d prefer to support a local Oakland artist, these felt balls should be in every body’s list. Balls grow with your little one and these are works of art!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dirtgirldesigns?ref=pr_shop_more
Interested in playground balls? Be sure to look for pure rubber balls no PVC, BPA or vinyl please.
2. Kitchen props: Stainless steel or wooden bowl, wooden spoons, measuring cups
3. Fabric: scarves, napkins, bandanas
4. Wooden blocks: a variety of sizes and shapes. Or you can make your own (tape up cardboard boxes.)
5. Dramatic play items: hats, fabric doll babies (plus bibs, diapers, clothes), shoes, belts, capes, larger clothing, kitchen, pots and pans, utensils, wooden eggs, fabric vegetables, strollers, baskets to carry.
6. Find items on walks that you can enjoy and play with together. Leaves, rocks, pine cones, sticks, flowers.
7. Baskets: You want to store items in an open basket where baby can access. Think about sturdy, low lying baskets for non-sitters and deeper baskets with handles for sitters and walkers, or larger floor baskets for walkers.