Playthings and Play Patterns

What follows is a list of play needs in chronological order of physical and cognitive development:

• Things to look at.
• Things to grab at.
• Things to handle and hold.
• Things for mouthing, chewing, and biting on.
• Things with sound.
• Things to rake, shovel about, pick-up; turn.
• Things to fill and dump.
• Things that roll.
• Things to pile, pitch and toss.
• Things to bang with and bang on.
• Things of several parts to take apart and reassemble.
• Texture things to pat, stroke, etc.
• Bright primary colored things.
• Same shape things of different sizes.
• Differently shaped things to put where they belong.

Suggestions

• A richly colored crib mobile
• Rattles
• Rubber animal squeeze toys
• Little musical instruments
• Push and pull toys with built-in noisemakers
• A gym toy for the playpen
• Cuddle toys

Note: Don't smother a child with too many playthings. Allow him to enjoy each one.

• A playpen by three months at the latest.
• By five months a jump seat or walker.

A Guide to Free Household Toys

With the older child in mind...

• Plastic bottles, sponges; wooden spoons for water play.
• Sewing cards made from magazine pictures mounted on cardboard.
• Assorted pasta and macaroni to string as beads or make pasta mobiles.
• Magnets, magnetic clips and cup hooks to make designs on refrigerator.
• Women's and men's old clothes and hats for dress up.
• Pie dough for sculptures.
• Puzzles made from magazine pictures mounted to cardboard and cut in pieces.
• Table covered with bedspread to use as playhouse or doll house.

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