TOYS: Tools for Play! Archive

This summer, instead of featuring a single book in the Virtual Book Club for Kids (hosted by Toddler Approved) is featuring ONE AUTHOR EACH MONTH.  This month … Mo Willems! I wasn’t introduced to the amazing work of Mo Willems until Henry received

With the challenge of the Playdough Pledge I was inspired to bring out different items to introduce into our playdough play! I put out feathers, toothpicks, sequins, pompoms, bottle caps, and pipe cleaners with our regular mix of playdough play items!

If you read Monday’s post (So Many Ways to Play with Playdough) or Tuesday’s post (Playdough in Play Therapy) you might have noticed that we took the Playdough Pledge this week. It’s an online playdate hosted by Nurturestore, The Imagination Tree, and Sun Hats

This is a real (not staged) photo I took of my daughter, Honor, over a year ago.  She actually did fall asleep in play dough while playing … don’t worry I was right there observing, making sure she could breathe before

This year Honor and Henry (with lots of help from me!) made Homemade Playdough Snow to give to their friends for Christmas. I followed this basic Playdough Recipe, but added in iridescent glitter at the end in some of the batches. Honor

This is SUCH a fun age to buy for.  Kids are finally mastering fine and gross motor skills … as well as the ability for imaginary play.  Here are some ideas for developmentally appropriate toys for children 2 – 5 years

One year olds are busy exploring their world, gaining fine and gross motor skills, and learning that they can control their environment (cause and effect. So, how about toys for that 1 to 2 year old?  Here are some of my

What are some MUST-HAVES for a baby-to-be or for that little zero to twelve-month old in your life?  Definitely think of safe toys that will stimulate the babies senses … because that is how he/she learns about the world.  Here are

Here’s some MORE of our favorite games (and their benefits of playing them).  As opposed to parts 1 and 2, these games are a bit more educational and therefore I’m less likely to use them in a play therapy session.  However,

Previously I posted a list of great “starter” games for kids  … Classic “Board” Games to Play with Three-Year-Olds … and WHY.  Here’s some more for when the other games are mastered!  I would recommend them for children 4 and older

Here’s a list I complied from many play therapy resources of what toys to include in a play therapy room.  It’s also a great list for home play rooms too!  

I LOVED this simple idea from  light box | happy hooligans, so I had to try it out. My dear hubby found the light (and got 2) on one of his many trips to Home Depot.  And I found a simple plastic