Baby toys
Do you also find that baby's prefer to play with your stuff eg. remote control, coasters, phone, etc. over their toys? So why buy toys when there is so much lying around the house that the baby can play with. Here are 3 ideas to turn household items into safe baby toys.
Age:
From approximately 5 months
Age:
From approximately 5 months
Discovery bottles
What you need: Empty plastic bottles, Beads, glitter, food colouring, pom poms, sand, glue, water
Preparation: Fill the bottles with water and add a few drops of food colouring. Put in the beads, pom poms, sand and glitter to your liking. You can also choose not to put any water in the bottles, this will give it nice sound effects. The variations are endless. Put some glue onto the bottle cap and put the cap back onto the bottle so you don't have to worry that the bottle might open. |
Ribbon play ring
What you need: A ring (empty tape roll or shower curtain ring), any kind of fabric and ribbon, a little bell or tassel, scissors
Preparation: Cut all the pieces of fabric and ribbon into the desired length. Use scraps that vary in textures, length and colour, so there is plenty to see and feel for the baby. Tie the pieces to the ring and add a little bell and/or tassel to it. |
Mystery box
What you need: Empty cardboard box, kitchen supplies; containers, spatula, cups etc. (no small objects and anything sharp as the baby will put it in their mouth).
Preparation: Fill the empty box with the supplies you have selected for your baby to play with. Give the mystery box to your child with the lid closed so they can open it and there will be an element of surprise in the play. |
Play
The play is simple. Just let the baby explore the toys by using all their senses. Let them feel it, see it, hear it and also taste it. You can help them by showing them what they can do with the objects.
Add-ons for more fun play
After the play the toys can be stored so they can be used again another time. The items of the mystery box have probably been in the baby's mouth, so wash them up before putting them back into your kitchen cupboard.
Educational
Baby's learn by watching, feeling, tasting, hearing and smelling what is going on in the world around them. By giving them new objects to explore you can help them to develop. While playing with your baby talk to them and explain what is going on. This will help them build vocabulary and link words to the play.
The play is simple. Just let the baby explore the toys by using all their senses. Let them feel it, see it, hear it and also taste it. You can help them by showing them what they can do with the objects.
Add-ons for more fun play
- An empty water bottle can also be turned into a discovery bottle for older kids. How about a trip to the beach and collect some sand, shells, drift wood etc that they can fill the bottle with. Add some glitter and blue food colouring and you have your ocean discovery bottle.
- Older children might enjoy making a dream catcher from a ring, ribbon and fabric scraps for in their room. Other things you could add are string, feathers, beads, charms and lace.
- The mystery box can also be used to make a themed sensory play box for older kids. One example can be to create a farm by putting some grass, leaves, sand, plastics farm animals, and a play truck into the box. Surprise your kids and fill it with something else each time.
After the play the toys can be stored so they can be used again another time. The items of the mystery box have probably been in the baby's mouth, so wash them up before putting them back into your kitchen cupboard.
Educational
Baby's learn by watching, feeling, tasting, hearing and smelling what is going on in the world around them. By giving them new objects to explore you can help them to develop. While playing with your baby talk to them and explain what is going on. This will help them build vocabulary and link words to the play.