Activities : When toys may not be relevant
Today’s commercialism may create and push the idea that kids NEED toys in order to be … happy.
To a certain extend, I must say I’d disagree though.
Yes, little ones would be over the moon if they could get their hands on particular toys they really like.
But, sometimes we parents may forget that there are sooo many other ways of keeping the kids happy, that doesn’t involve toys.
Like, when we play chase with them.
The ‘I’m going to come and get you!!’ game never fails to get the biggest grins and giggles from the kids.
[The big question is, are we adults willing to let our hair down, exaggerate our movements, duck, dodge and run?]
As for Vai, one of the simple things that keep him happy is … climbing.
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What other toy-free activities can you think of? Please do share. I’d love to hear from you!
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Liz Beth :
hahah.. you know what … that’s what I let the kids do too when I need to catch up on work or something else. And they totally love it! I let ‘waterplay’ before they have their shower … and yup, they can happily play for 30mins (or more if I let them 🙂
I have two 2-litre ice cream tubs filled with all sorts of plastic stuff ‘permanently’ placed in my bathroom 😀
Thanks for sharing. Liz!
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Gwen :
heheh .. yup, it IS economical isn’t it … ? esp. recycling stuff … doing good to the environment at the same time too! 😀
we use recycled stuff a lot too at home!
Fiona Tay :
Hi hi .. I don’t mind about the pics on your blog 🙂 but hey thanks for telling me about it … Appreciate it!
My latest idea of fun ? haha .. it’s our bedtime routine at night. You see, I’m not as ‘strong’ as Daddy who can lift them up and do all sorts of ‘stunts’ with them. So I lay on my tummy, on Anya’s bed, and they both sit on my back … and they tell me where they’d want to go and what I should be (eg. motor bike, horse, etc). And they LOVE it!! especially when I make sharp turns to the left / right and they all tumble down haha …
It’s one bedtime routine they both (especially Anya!) look fwd to every single night before switching off the lights 🙂
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Mnhl :
I can imagine how excited your son is … coz I know my kids love such games too! 😀 Thanks for sharing!
Valentine :
I used to climb a lot too! Come to think of it .. he might’ve gotten it from me!
The interesting thing about Vai and his climbing is, he hardly falls down (so far) when he climbs. May be the fact that I don’t stand too near to him when he’s climbing plays a part? (ie. he has no choice but to hold on as tightly as possible 🙂
oh well .. but then again , as i always tell my kids … if you run, you can fall … if you climb, you can fall too. be ready for the consequences of our actions. it’s part and parcel of it.
but we also tell them, when you fall, just get up and try again haha (ie. not to be afraid of failures) EXCEPT when we’ve warned them NOT to do something n they fall as a result … well, that’s different coz we won’t ‘encourage’ them to try again 🙂
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Andrea :
Thanks for the ideas, Andrea!
Yup boxes make great tunnels. Our kids play with them too when we happen to have boxes at home. They become their ‘hiding places’ … and they just love it! 🙂
If half the day could be spent at the playground climbing and sliding down and yes, playing catch, and the other half panting, painting and more painting, I think my daughter would be totally overjoyed.
At this point it would seem there isn’t a need to buy toys for my son. He derives more amusement from paper, plastic bags, opening and closing drawers and climbing.
So yes we are in a very economical phase of life 😀
in my case.. it is water… which is why my kids can ask to be showered for 3 times a day. In the shower.. they get unwanted bottles or cup.. some times a water pistol (free gift from buying their toothpaste).. or empty shampoo bottle they can fill and squirt water with.. maybe a cheap watering can. In the garden.. I let them use the hose to water my plants… or I just fill 2 buckets of water.. put 2 stool.. and they will be at it for more than an hour..
Another action which my son also loves to do (my son is the same age as Vai). I’ve been playing hide and seek with him and he loves it. He will giggle and laughing away so happily when he found me. Another one will be competing who will reach the bathroom first. When I ask him to take bathe, he will say “WAIT”, then I will say, “ohh..mummy is going now, going now” (while running slowly towards the bathroom) and he will be so excited and laughing away and running to the bathroom. Haha…gotcha….he will then take his bathe obediently.
i don’t know what kind of things should be given to kids. haha! and i agree with you that it’s not all about toys that make kids happy!
so, what’s your latest “idea” to make them happy?
i hope Vai will grow out of his “climbing” madness. haha!
p.s: i posted 2 pictures from your blog which i think suits best for my topic. hehe.. they’re my fav fav models ;P
We were convinced our son would jump off the roof of our 2 story house someday. He’s 16 now and so far, so good! 🙂
We have alot of moving boxes if you’d like them. They make a great tunnel!
Also, my mother always kept her Tupperware (plastic storage containers) in a low cabinet. My kids and her other grandkids always knew that was a cabinet they could dive into. She would just wash them off before using. What grandmothers do for their grandkids.
he reminded me of me when i was younger, thats my fav activity and i fell down quite a lot of times giving my mom multiple heart attack.
The only toy free activities that shan2 really love now a days is banging my pots and pans when i cook. Or take out the coffee filter, the soup spoon and pretend to cook.