Archive for the 'Holiday guide' Category

December 21st, 2010

Christmas activities that promote family time

Posted by Melitsa in Articles, Education, Holiday guide, Homemade, language, play activities, Seasonal play, Sites to visit

I’ve talked before about squeezing in family time, play and routines during the Christmas or holiday season. Yes there are so many more things to fit into our day but it’s also a great time to add in activities that everyone can do together. Christmas holiday time is also the time when there are many more people around.

Photo credit

Here is our list in no particular order of family time activities that we make sure we stop and do during the holiday time.

What books do you have that show Christmas around the world?

December 8th, 2010

Holiday Gift Guide

Posted by Melitsa in Holiday guide, play activities, Thought of the week

Christmas isn’t all about buying gifts but it can easily turn into a toy fest. Don’t get me wrong we like toys and recommend them. But it’s the time of year we tend to ease off on the brakes and buy more and do more than any other time. It’s easy to overspend and overdo.

If you are looking for an alternative to the toy guides have a look at the Play Activities alternative Toy guide for inspiration.
You can download the ebook or read and comment on the blog posts starting with Activity and Time

photo credit: Mark Paciga

What would you add to this alternative gift guide?

November 26th, 2009

The alternative Play Activities Holiday Gift Guide #8 Toys

Posted by Melitsa in Articles, Holiday guide, play activities, Seasonal play

Toys

We like toys and games like everyone else. For a good list of toys ( opens in a pdf) to avoid that will stifle creativity look at TRUCE.

TRUCE have a large variety of resources available in PDF.

Try Infant and toddler play, Toys and Media action guide. (PDF)

Now you have your mind set for the type of toys you want to bring in the house. You have space after the sorting and giving away. Now, where can you find them?

Shops to consider online that engage child’s mind

As you peruse Fat Brain Toys, you may find something missing. In fact, if you’re accustomed to the toy selection found at most stores, you may find lots of items missing. Missing are the licensed, violent, cheaply made toys that end up in the trash can shortly after being played with by your child. But what you will find instead are THOUSANDS of quality, open-ended toys, games, and gifts that entertain AND educate.

Our philosophy has remained the same over the years–to make each and every customer a happy and permanent member of the Melissa & Doug family, while offering products with tremendous value, quality and design.

We’re proud to be the nation’s best resource for toys that engage and entertain. Whatever you select, we guarantee that your children will learn—and have fun—while they play!

Qubits

The Construction / Educational Toy
Designed for Kids who like to Build

You’ll love this fun video

Leaps and bounds

Encourage your child’s development with Leaps and Bounds terrific toys, educational tools, and activities.

Indoor toys

Outdoor toys

Barefoot books

Welcome to a place…where there’s always time for make believe. Where whimsical can be wise and learning can be fun. Where stories have the power to inspire children to explore, create, and connect to the wonders of the world around them. A world where everyone lives Barefoot.

Imaginechildhood

At imaginechildhood.com we believe that children should experience the world through their own eyes, ears, fingers, and toes. That direct interaction with nature is the best way to learn about the world, and that open-ended imaginative play is the best way to learn about what it could be.

Part community forum, part storefront, imaginechildhood.com is a place where parents and kids can find their own definition of childhood.

On our blog and in our store we offer stories, activities, and innovative products that encourage exploration, creativity, and open-ended unstructured play.

Naturalpod

Natural Pod began out of our own desire to have beautiful, open-ended, natural toys for our children and a way to discover what is new and interesting in the world. And, of course, we derive some joy from finding just the right gift for someone, or for ourselves

As parents we found it increasingly difficult to find quality natural play items that supported creative and imaginative play. During our search, we soon realized that many parents shared our passion. We hope to encourage more families to discover the benefits of natural toys and rediscover a true sense of play. These items can become an heirloom, passed down from one generation to the next.

Etsy for wooden toys and unique toys

Photo credit: Childrens Country scene Photo credit: Babypop Photo credit: gigglejunction

Imagination stories……………..Finally, a fun, wholesome and easy way to engage and develop the imaginations of
children between 2 and 5 years of age!

Finger Rhymes……………….Have a few rhymes up your sleeve for those unavoidable “stuck” moments, whether you’re trapped in a line up, sitting in the car in a traffic jam or waiting for service at your local restaurant. These 6 simple finger rhymes can be played anywhere!

Think about checking out your small toy stores in your local town. You’ll have them It’s amazing the variety of toys you’ll see compared to the big box shops.

Each of these toy stores have newsletters you can sign up to receive discount codes, new product notices and play advice.

Where do you shop to get toys of value?

Alternative Play Activities holiday gift guide 2009

Download the complete Holiday gift guide

November 25th, 2009

The alternative Play Activities Holiday Gift Guide #7 Outdoor play

Posted by Melitsa in Articles, Education, Holiday guide, Outdoor play, play activities, pretend play, Roundups, Seasonal play, Sites to visit

Outdoor play

Make a promise to increase your outdoor play quota for the week. Whatever the weather- play outdoors. ( Whether the weather be hot, whether the weather be cold, whether the weather whatever the weather, whether you like it or not!)

Small Fry’s Outdoor play book is jam packed full of brilliant starters and activities ( more on this soon) See a sample page.

Find amazing play outdoor things to do at

Start a nature club with this toolkit like Naturestrollers

Photo credit: Children and nature.

Discovertheforest.org

Fun Orange County parks- lots of ideas and articles for everyone and locally.

KaBoom- a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

Loving Natures Garden- family, nature, garden and food

Outdoor toys from Play Outdoors

Buy an annual pass to your local state park most on sale Jan 1.

Little humbugs – the magic of nature

Nature Rocks- National program bursting with information to inspire and empower families to play an explore in nature.

Nature walks, treasure hunts, natural play, listening walks, playgrounds, playgroups………………there are so many things that can find you outside.

Follow the #playoutdoors movement on Twitter.

If you are looking for some reading to learn more about playing outdoors try Richard Louv’s

Buy it AMAZON

What do you do to get outside? How were you inspired to get outside when you were a little one? Feel free to add more play outdoors enthusiasts in the comments.

Alternative Play Activities holiday gift guide 2009

Activity & time
Engage vs Entertain
Giving away
Scaling back
Unstructured play, open ended and downtime.
Gift giving
Outdoor play

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