As my dd’s birthday approaches at the end of this month, I’ve been pondering what gift to purchase that will stimulate her desire to play!  I’ve been reading Heaven on Earth by Sharifa Oppenheimer and it’s been wonderful to explore what kinds of toys engage a child’s imagination.  I am always inspired by the suggestions of simple things from nature and providing the kids with toys that they can manipulate.

For young children, boys and girls, dress up is an all-time favorite.  We have a basket filled with hats, accessories, and garments.  Recently, we’ve been trying to add more masculine get-ups so my 3 year old ds doesn’t have to be a princess if he doesn’t want to.  We were fortunate to have found a hand-sewn dragon costume at the thrift store this week.  I don’t sew and I always feel that I am at the mercy of the retail stores near Halloween for my children’s costumes.  My ds has been living as a dragon for 2 days thus far.

Another simple idea that has brought tremendous joy has been a basket of colorful silks.  We didn’t buy them from a natural toy store.  We found them in a bag of material at a yard sale.  They’re just squares of satiny cloth - one blue, one purple, and one white.  These silks have been made into blankets and slings for babies, landscapes of water and mountains, peek-a-boo blankies, costumes for superheroes and ghosts, and the list goes on.

Other creative ideas that you can try - filling baskets with different items - big river rocks (these make great vegetables and other food items for baking and cooking), acorns (not for babies - these became little people at our house), pine cones (watch the pokey exterior! trees or people), and wooden blocks (great for towers, castles, and mountains).

Less is best when it comes to toys.  I went through the children’s rooms this weekend and stored a lot in the attic.  It’s amazing how much cleaner the space feels.  With less toys, the children feel less burdened and actually play more.  Isn’t that just what you would like to see?

As much as I would like to avoid plastic, my dd has been requesting Barbie dolls!  Yikes!  I’ve been enjoying the wooden toy era for the past 5 years and I feel my heart start to palpitate with the thought of a Barbie tainting her fairy themed-bedroom.  I look back on my own childhood and I remember so fondly playing with Barbies.  I loved creating their houses and inventing adventures they would go on with me in the car or taking them outside under a bush for a picnic.  Hours of pure joy.  I don’t ever recall thinking that I should look like Barbie or that I wasn’t as beautiful as Barbie.  I didn’t even think of identifying with Barbie.

So, as I share with you all these beautiful natural toy ideas, I also encourage you to find out what it is your child would enjoy to the fullest.  Would the toy that they want inspire them to play?  Does it encourage self-talk (this is that inner dialogue that is so critical to their brain development) and are they able to be creative with the toy?  I asked myself these questions and have decided to get her a Barbie family.  I am still adamant about modest clothing so there will not be bikini or belly-shirt clad Barbies lying about at our house!

What are your child’s favorite toys?