This week’s #goplay Twitter Tips are all about un – toys : the favourite things to play with which you won’t find in the toy shops, the alternative to plastic, battery-operated toys.
#goplay Twitter Tip #1 Consider what makes a great toy: fun, stimulating, open-ended, multi-use, still interesting as the child grows
#goplay Twitter Tip #2 What’s an un-toy? Natural materials & everyday objects: an alternative to plastic, battery-operated, one-purpose toys
#goplay Twitter Tip #3 I find children play longer & with more concentration with un-toys: they’re versatile & offer more play opportunities
#goplay Twitter Tip #4 Some un-toys we love: sticks, boxes, shells, pots & pans, wooden spoons, bottle tops, button, fircones, food packets
#goplay Twitter Tip #5 There’s no ‘right way’ to play with un-toys: let your child’s imagination decide & watch each child play differently
#goplay Twitter Tip #6 Did you know the stick and the cardboard box have both been inducted into the Toy Hall Of Fame? http://www.museumofplay.org/nthof/toys/index.php?toy=cardboard_box
#goplay Twitter Tip #7 A cardboard box can become a train , a story tent or a house
#goplay Twitter Tip #8 How about collecting some pebbles this weekend and making a set of story stones?
#goplay Twitter Tip #9 How about providing some un-toys for dressing up? fabric, scarves, ribbons so children can create their own costumes?
#goplay Twitter Tip #10 Why not try some un-toys & see what your child thinks: have fun, #goplay, go green, be creative, use your imagination!
*These #goplayTwitter Tips are tweeted each Friday at 8.30pm – follow @nurturestore or the #goplay hashtag to share
View the Twitter Tips on playdough, water play, travelling with kids junk modeling and encouraging reading and writing
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Very inspiring – thank you. I shall have a little think about other un-toys we could add to our play space.
Thanks for stopping by Busy Brissy Mum
Love this list! My kids amaze me with what they come up with when I declare “nothing electronic.”
Thanks for stopping by Sarah.
These are great ideas! My mom kept all of her old bridesmaid dresses for my sis and I to play in and we thought that was great. (Apparently she was in a lot of weddings!)
Oh Heather, my girls would love to get their hands on a stash of bridesmaid dresses!
Great tips – MY dad told me if he had it to do over again, he would never allow toys – unless we made them! our most played with items are sticks – all boys – what else?!
*Blessings*
LIB
http://bit.ly/9HFa6P
Hi LIB, I’m inclined to agree with your Dad – we’re certainly putting the brakes on any new stuff.
[...] Twitter Tip#10 Instead of only setting up a homework area set up a play area too. Add untoys & let them [...]
Untoys are fantastic! When I was teaching early preschoolers the parents used to give me the funniest looks when they would peek at our activities for the day! but I think they liked my philosophy of teaching children with nature. Sensory tables are fantastic ways to get these items into your class rooms and homes. At our house we don’t have a designated homework area, it’s more of a science/ exploration center