Encouraging Creative Play - Toys With Imagination

The work of a child is play. Through play, childrenlittle guest tried wearing the measuring cups on his
explore their world, and much more. Theyhead, like little caps.
practice social skills and stretch their imaginationsAmong my favorite creative play toys are
through make-believe games, and learn basic lawscardboard boxes. The larger, appliance-sized ones
of physics (like gravity, and cause and effect).make wonderful play houses. They can be easily
The best kind of play, creative play, shouldtransformed from caves into castles, pirate ships,
stimulate a child's senses, intellect, and imagination.or fortresses. Children can decorate the walls of
Does that mean a trip to the "educational" toytheir cardboard constructions with crayons, chalk,
store? Not at all!or stickers. With adult help, they can cut out
To encourage creative play, toys don't have todoors and windows.
be elaborate or expensive. In fact, the bestSmaller cartons, the kind that are available in
creative play toys are often the simplest. Simplequantity an any liquor store, also offer lots of
toys allow for "open-ended" play, as they lendpossibilities as creative play toys. Four of these,
themselves to multiple purposes. By their veryturned on their sides and stacked 2 high and wide,
simplicity, they encourage the child to fill in themake a quick 4-room dollhouse for teddy bears
details with his or her imagination.and other toys. Stacked in a single column, they
Here's a quick story to illustrate my point: Ibecome a castle tower for teddy. Lined up on the
recently enjoyed a visit from a friend and her 2floor, they might be a train. A single box can be a
year old son. At bath time, my friend realized thatdoll cradle, or maybe a boat.
she'd forgotten to pack tub toys. No problem! AThere are also certain practical advantages of
quick scan of my cupboards turned up a set ofusing boxes for creative play. Toys made of
tin measuring cups and a shallow plastic soap dish.cardboard boxes can be quickly flattened and
Suddenly, the bathtub was full of boats as therecycled when the play is done! The temporary
soap dish and tin cups bobbed in the water. Bathnature of the cardboard constructions is part of
water, poured from the measuring cups, becametheir appeal. Since they're not available all the time,
a waterfall, that swamped and sank the soapit's a special treat when they are.
dish, turning it into a submarine. At one point, my