Toys don't have to feature loud noises, flashing lights, and other electronic functions to be fun and entertaining to children. Many simple, old fashioned toys still please today's children as much as they did twenty, and even forty, years ago. Old fashioned toys also inspire learning. Their simplicity encourages children to use their imaginations and to discover new things.
Reading is one of the best pastimes your child can enjoy. Provide plenty of age appropriate books about a variety of different topics. It is also important to introduce your child to all the various literature genres. Read fiction and non-fiction books together and discuss the differences. Explore several types of poetry and read biographies about someone your child has an interest in.
Dress up clothes are old fashioned toys that will never cease to delight young children. Career accessories, like fireman boots and hats, policeman uniforms, and mail bags, are great for role playing. Extra costumes are also a lot of fun for pretend play and are a good way to enhance language skills by acting out stories, movies, or favorite television shows. For real old fashioned toys, fill an old trunk with old prom gowns, wedding dresses, tuxedos, and suits as well as plenty of old fashioned accessories. Your child and her friends will enjoy hours of make believe fun.
Felt boards are also classic old fashioned toys that still promise tons of creative fun and learning opportunities. Felt board figures are available to create pretend play scenarios and to recreate stories and books or you can make your own old fashioned felt toys by cutting a variety of shapes from several colors of felt sheets. Your child can build all sorts of creations with the felt shapes.
Old fashioned toys like paper dolls and puppets encourage children to pretend and enhance language and social development as well. Paper dolls can be easily created by you and your child with a printer and cardstock. There are a number of templates available online. You can encourage your child to create their own paper doll clothes by tracing around the doll and coloring.
Puppets are old fashioned toys that have seen many, many changes. Today, special puppet stages are available as well as ethnic family puppets and several other characters. Children still love the old fashioned puppets they make themselves too. Simple sock puppets, craft stick families, and paper bag hand puppets are fun and easy to make and provide lots of learning benefits.
Instruments and musical toys have been a part of childhood for centuries. These old fashioned toys have also seen a lot of changes, with modern musical toys offering microphones, electronic sounds, and recording features. Traditional musical instruments like small drums, xylophones, and kazoos are still just as enjoyable and educational as their modern versions.
Instruments are fun and easy to make from basic household supplies. Shakers and maracas can be made from small containers filled with rice or beans or from paper mache. Help your child hammer nails across a small wooden block, then string rubber bands between the nails for a fun guitar. You can make music with just about anything from sand paper to a comb and wax paper.
The love of old fashioned toys will most likely continue through several more centuries of childhoods. These types of toys are held dear because of their simplicity. Old fashioned toys invite children to take over play time, to use their imagination, and to explore the world around them.
Gary Clay is an expert on Fantastic Traditional Toys [http://www.monkeyshine.co.uk/traditional-toys-21] and owner of stylish kids store MonkeyShine a retailer of quality old fashioned toys [http://www.monkeyshine.co.uk/traditional-toys-21] in the UK.
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