Instead I'm investing in more natural playthings - and letting the kids use their imaginations instead of relying on toys that sing and play music to spark their imaginations.
A good example is this afternoon. I've been cleaning out closets and I came across a pile of hand crocheted doilies that my mother-in-law Paula gave me when Mike and I first traveled to Houston to meet her - years before Maddie was a thought! I have to admit that they've just been sitting in a closet - not getting much use. They're beautiful, but not practical for a house with toddlers - I just don't have many "pretty" things on display these days! Paula's mom made them when she was very little - and she said she can remember sitting and watching her mom crocheting them - and helping to wind the yarn into balls. What a wonderful memory!
So as I was taking them out of the closet I had this idea - maybe maddie would like to use them for make-believe play. They would be nice little blankets for her barbies...
Well I'm happy to say that she was ecstatic at the opportunity to play with them - especially since there were several pink ones!
And I'm even happier to brag that this is what my daughter did with them (after she'd used them to make a layer "cake"):
She's a scarecrow she said - what an imagination this little girl has!
I'm also very happy to share with you the first family picture that Maddie has ever drawn. I'm not sure when it happened, but she has suddenly started drawing people - complete with eyes, nose, mouth, head, hair and legs! I asked her to draw me a picture of our family today and this is what she made. I wrote the names under who they are (but they're backwards because I used the laptop computer). After she drew the people she found some hand and foot stickers in the crayon box and gave everyone hands and feet. I'm so impressed!
2 comments:
I am happy to know that you are doing that with the children.
They will grow up healthier and happier using their imagination.
Yeah for you!!!
:)
We've not purchased many toys for our children, but friends and relatives sure have! It was easy to have them disappear to local charities when the girls were younger, but now (ages 6 & 8) they notice when things go missing (and I feel bad about taking them away - it's not MY stuff), but including them in the process never works, either. They usually want to keep everything. (And, yes, they do play with most of it!) Maybe by encouraging friends and family to contribute in some other way (dance or music lessons, college savings fund, etc.) more successfully than I did (I've tried-believe me), you'll avoid this struggle in coming years. Best of luck!
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