You want them to feel known, loved, celebrated and remembered. You want to show your grandchild's family that you went the extra mile to find a thoughtful present and that you are taking a genuine interest in their life and the life of your grandchild.
If you find yourself racking your brain every time you need to buy a gift for your grandchild, this is your guide to everything you need to know about how to become the best present giving Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, Papa, Abuela or Abuelo.....EVER.
This may seem like the most obvious thing to do, and for some grandparents it is. If you already do this, give yourself a high five. You would be surprised how many people do not. Keep in mind, what you DO with that information will be key. Write it down (even the tiniest details). You will be using it ALL. If you have limited information to work with, that's okay. Just do what you can and take your research to the next step. For more detailed tips about how to do this, check out the Pro Tips List at the bottom of this post.
We hope that this Grandparent Guide has been helpful to you, and stay tuned for part two where we share even more specific ideas and tips for each age group.
Enjoy the Journey!
- Sarah
I’m a father now, of two beautiful kids Blanca and Joaquin, and I’ve prioritized spending time with them – something incredibly fulfilling and fun for me. It turns out that spending time with them, engaging them in shared interests and playing is also incredibly beneficial to them.
That’s why it made so much sense to partner with Waytoplay Toys for a special Father’s Day collaboration made to spark connection between dads and their kids, educate and engage them in imaginative play, and strengthen bonds.
Check out the Father's Day Grand Prix Bundle and Father's Day Zandvoort F1 Circuit Premium Bundle.
While the concept of play is often associated with children, it holds equal importance in the lives of fathers and their little ones. Playtime between fathers and their children not only strengthens the bond between them but also contributes to the child's holistic development. We explored the significance of play with fathers and garnered some valuable insights on the benefits of play.
Playing with your children is like planting seeds that will continue to grow for decades to come. Why is playing with your kids so important?
Building Strong Connections:
Play provides fathers with a unique opportunity to forge deep emotional connections with their children. Engaging in playful activities not only creates moments of joy but also helps fathers understand their children better. Whether it's flipping through the pages of a captivating book, acting out characters, or engaging in interactive games, fathers can use playtime as a platform for open communication, nurturing trust, and strengthening their relationship.
Developing Essential Life Skills:
Play is a powerful vehicle for learning, and fathers play a crucial role in facilitating their child's growth and development. Through play, fathers can encourage creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
Fostering Emotional Intelligence:
Playtime allows fathers to teach their children about empathy, emotions, and social interactions. Through role-playing, storytelling, and pretend play, fathers can help their children understand different perspectives and develop emotional intelligence.
And don't forget to tune in and watch the F1 Canadian Grand Prix, scheduled for June 18th, 2023, which happens to fall on Father's Day. That's exactly what I'll be doing with my kids and friends during our watch party, and I can't think of a better gift than enjoying an exciting race together with family. From my perspective, shared interests, such as a mutual love for cars or sports, have the power to ignite children's curiosity, strengthen the bond between me and my kids, and establish (Sunday) rituals that evolve into lasting traditions. Playtime with parents is a treasured experience that fosters love, learning, and growth. We’re proud to honor the significance of this bond this Father’s Day through our collaboration with Way To Play. Bringing the love of Formula 1 racing off-track to enhance playtime and foster creativity creates an opportunity to nurture a child’s curiosity and creativity. Cheers to celebrating the power of play and creating beautiful memories this Father’s Day!
Have a great fathers Day
Andy Amendola
Click here to order Father's Day Grand Prix Bundle that includes
About Red Racer Books
Red Racer Books specializes in creating children's books centered around motorsports and F1 racing. Andy Amendola, the brand's founder, is passionate about introducing young children to the racing world while also exploring related concepts such as science, technology, diversity, and teamwork. Red Racer Books was founded on the belief that Formula 1 and other motorsports have an unparalleled ability to captivate and engage children, unlike any other sport. Our books provide a unique and exciting way for young readers to discover the wide world of motorsports. Our flagship book is the ABCs of Racing - My First Guide to Formula 1TM Racing which serves as the perfect introduction to Formula One racing basics and engages kids with bright illustrations of racing fun while learning the alphabet and basic F1 concepts. It’s all you need to be ready to watch your first grand prix. Our second book is All about Race Cars - A Guide to Formula 1™ Race Cars - an exciting children's book that delves into the world of Formula 1 racing and the incredible technology of the 2022 F1 race cars. With vivid illustrations and photos, readers will discover aerodynamics, engines, tires and brakes, safety features, and fun STEM facts. This 40-page book includes free coloring book printouts, a glossary, and a quiz. Written by Andy Amendola, illustrated by Wei Ren, it's perfect for young racing enthusiasts aged 5-10. Join Red Racer and Roxy the Engineer for an educational and entertaining journey!
]]>Despite the importance of bath time, many parents struggle with getting their children to take a bath. Some common challenges include:
Some children simply refuse to take a bath, often due to a dislike of the water or an aversion to getting undressed. This can be frustrating for parents, who may feel like they are constantly nagging or bargaining with their child to get them in the bath.
For other children, bath time can cause fear or anxiety. This may be due to a traumatic experience in the bath, such as slipping or being accidentally submerged, or it may simply be a fear of the unknown. For these children, bath time can be a stressful and overwhelming experience.
Fortunately, there are many ways to make bath time more enjoyable for children. One great option is to introduce bath toys and sensory play into the bath time routine. Waytoplay Toys' flexible toy road is a perfect example of a fun and engaging toy that can be used in the bath.
Waytoplay Toys' flexible toy road is a set of flexible toy roads that can be arranged in a variety of configurations to create a roadway. The roads are waterproof and can be used in the bath, making them a perfect addition to bath time play. Children can use the roads to create different tracks and configurations for their bath time toys, allowing them to engage in imaginative play while getting clean.
In addition to the flexible toy road, there are many other bath toys and sensory activities that can be used to make bath time more enjoyable for children. These might include rubber ducks, foam letters, numbers, stacking cups, and water wheels. Sensory activities, such as adding bubbles, or bath bombs, can also help to create a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere for children.
Strategies for Overcoming Bath Time Challenges While introducing bath toys and sensory play can be helpful in getting children to enjoy bath time, there may still be challenges to overcome. Here are some strategies that parents can use to address common bath time challenges:
What to Do if Your Child Refuses to Take a Bath?
If your child refuses to take a bath, it may be helpful to involve them in the process of selecting bath toys or sensory activities. Allowing them to have some control and input can help them feel more invested in the experience and more willing to participate.
How Do I Convince My 3 Year Old to Take a Bath?
For young children, it can be helpful to use visual aids to explain the importance of bath time. You might show them pictures of germs or bacteria and explain how taking a bath can help keep them healthy and clean.
How Do You Trick a Toddler into a Bath?
Rather than tricking a toddler, it can be helpful to make bath time a positive and engaging experience. This might involve singing songs, playing games, or engaging in imaginative play with bath toys.
Why Won't My Child Sit in the Bath?
If your child is reluctant to sit in the bath, it may be helpful to try different water temperatures or depths until you find a comfortable level for them. Additionally, using a non-slip mat or bath seat can help them feel more secure.
Why Is My 3 Year Old Scared to Take a Bath?
If your child is scared of bath time, it may be helpful to identify and address the source of their fear. This might involve introducing new bath toys or activities to distract them from their fear or gradually exposing them to the water in a gentle and supportive way.
Bath time can be a fun and engaging activity for children with the right tools and strategies. Waytoplay Toys' flexible toy road and other bath toys and sensory activities can help to make bath time more enjoyable and promote good hygiene habits. By addressing common bath time challenges and using positive and supportive techniques, parents can help their children develop a love for bath time and maintain their health and hygiene.
Are Waytoplay Toys' flexible toy roads safe for children to use in the bath? Yes, Waytoplay Toys' flexible toy roads are made from a durable and waterproof material that is safe for children to use in the bath.
Can using bath toys and sensory activities help children overcome a fear of bath time? Yes, introducing new and engaging activities can help distract children from their fear and create a positive association with bath time.
Is it okay for children to skip baths occasionally? While it's not ideal, occasional skips in bath time may be necessary due to circumstances beyond your control. In these cases, prioritize other forms of hygiene to maintain cleanliness.
Can using Waytoplay Toys' flexible toy road and other bath toys help children develop their imagination and creativity? Yes, using bath toys and engaging in imaginative play can help children develop their cognitive
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As parents, we often try to find ways to help our children develop and grow while keeping them engaged and entertained. One way to do this is through open-ended play, which allows children to use their imaginations and creativity while exploring and discovering the world around them. In this article, we will explore different types of open-ended play and the benefits they offer for kids.
Open-ended play is any type of play that allows children to use their imaginations and creativity to explore, discover and experiment with the world around them. Unlike structured play, open-ended play has no set rules, outcomes or objectives, allowing children to create their own experiences and outcomes.
Open-ended play can take many different forms, and it is important to understand the various types of open-ended play in order to incorporate them into your child's playtime.
Sensory play involves activities that engage a child's senses, such as touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing. Examples of sensory play include playing with sand, water, play dough, and musical instruments.
Sensory play helps children develop their sensory skills, which are essential for their overall development. It also helps them learn about cause and effect, problem-solving, and creativity.
Imaginative play involves using a child's imagination to create scenarios and stories. This can include playing dress-up, building forts, or acting out stories with dolls or action figures.
Imaginative play helps children develop their creativity, problem-solving skills, and emotional intelligence. It also helps them develop their language and social skills.
Constructive play involves building and creating with materials such as blocks, Legos, and cardboard boxes. This type of play encourages children to use their problem-solving and spatial skills to create structures and objects.
Constructive play helps children develop their fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and creativity. It also helps them develop their social and emotional skills as they work with others to create structures and objects.
Outdoor play involves exploring and interacting with the natural environment. This can include playing in a sandbox, running through a sprinkler, or going on a nature hike.
Outdoor play helps children develop their gross motor skills, coordination, and physical fitness. It also helps them develop their appreciation for the natural world and their understanding of the environment.
Open-ended play offers many benefits for children, including:
Open-ended play is an essential part of a child's development, offering countless benefits for their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social growth. By incorporating different types of open-ended play into your child's playtime, you can help them develop their skills and abilities while fostering their creativity and imagination.
Open-ended play is appropriate for children of all ages, from infants to teenagers. The type of open-ended play will vary based on the child's age and development level.
There is no set amount of open-ended play that a child should engage in. It is important to provide opportunities for open-ended play on a regular basis, but the amount of time will vary based on the child
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Celebrate the Dutch holiday Sinterklaas
Sinterklaas, or Saint Nicholas Day holds various Dutch traditions such as having children put out their shoes on the evening of December 5th and during the night Saint Nicholas fills them with toys and candy. Read all about the different ways to incorporate Sinterklaas into your gift-giving tradition!
Start a Christmas Eve gift-giving tradition
- Some people have the tradition of opening one or more gifts on Christmas Eve. This can be something to be used the following day, a gift that you want to stand apart from the others, or just something silly that adds to the fun of building up excitement for Christmas. Some specific ideas are:
Spread out your gifts over the "12 days of Christmas"
Ever heard the song the twelve days of Christmas? Some people celebrate the 12 days of Christmas (The first day being on Christmas Day) and spread gifts out over twelve days instead of giving them all on one day. This is a great way to keep the joy going and spread out the joy of gift-giving over a longer period of time. This is especially great for families to do with kids as many times there are so many presents from extended family on Christmas day that spreading gifts from parents out over a longer period allows the children to really enjoy and appreciate them in a different way.
Give small gifts as a countdown leading up to Christmas
Some people have a tradition of wrapping small gifts and having children open one gift each day of December leading up to Christmas day. Some simple but effective themes for countdown gifts are:
- small treats
- notes
- books (a mixture of holiday books you already own and new ones to share together)
- ornaments to hang each day on the tree
Adopt a gift-giving tradition from around the world
Feeling particularly creative or bored of the same old way of giving gifts? Why not read up on some of the very unique ways that people from all over the world give gifts during the holidays? Some of them are pretty wild and would definitely spice up your holiday season in a big way!
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Start with a book. Any book. A board book, a picture book from a random shelf. If you have a pretty basket of books you have carefully curated great...grab one of those. Got the book? Great. You might even want a small pile of books.
Sit with your child on your lap and read the book. Slowly. If they are all over the place and flipping pages, stopping for large amounts of time to look at the pictures, or going out of order...even better. Playing with books is the first step to becoming a true book lover. I remember with each kid the thrill of walking into a room and for the first time they had taken off every book on the shelf (I know for some moms this is cringe worthy) and were totally surrounded with a mountain of books. Books that stay neatly on the bookshelf are sad books. Books that are all over the floor, being used, read, and even sometimes abused are happy books. Think Velveteen Rabbit books. You almost always know the most loved books in the house because they are completely falling apart.
Ask these three key questions and make statements that help open up their thinking and get them making connections:
- I notice________. What do YOU notice?
- I wonder______? What do YOU wonder?
-This reminds me of_______. What does ______ remind you of?
From there, go with it. Say yes. Reading a book about food and for some reason they won't stop talking about potatoes? Guess what your learning activities will revolve around today....POTATOES. You are now potato lady for the morning. I know it's a weird example...stay with me.Take an idea that comes up in the book, something they seem really interested in, and use that for the core of your learning. Remember that stack of books you gathered? Wait for an idea in one of those books makes their eyes light up and you've got your inspiration for the day.
Grab a few of all those cool open-ended toys you have been carefully curating and ask them if they want to make potatoville with you. At this point they are trying to figure out if you are serious and also very excited that mom or dad is going with this super silly idea and actually running with it. Get your wooden blocks and magnetic tiles, your waytoplay roads and cars, a few people or animals (or real potatoes), and let your imaginations go wild. Draw faces on the potatoes. Make up wild stories about how they put potatoes in all their food, and have different potato businesses all over town. See what direction your child starts to run with their new found love for potatoes...the key here...don't force a specific idea on them but sort of watch them and lay down a few little ideas and see which one really takes...spoiler alert...at this point almost anything you suggest that has to do with potatoes they will probably be over the moon about. Go all in.
Continue using your "theme" for whatever learning activities you do throughout the day. Sound like a unit study? It basically is, except your child is helping to pick the theme of the study. The reason unit studies works so well for kids is it helps them to learn the way they learn most authentically the rest of the time...where all the subjects are connected. Does being spontaneous scare you? No worries. Jot down ahead of time a few areas you want to focus on in learning and take the ideas they bring to the table and work them into that area of learning. If you want to sort of "guide" this kind of learning to meet certain goals, see the bottom of the post for extra tips for doing this. Here are some different ways you could go at this point depending on what your day looks like and what your child's interests are. One piece of advice if you don't have a specific focus in mind already...do the thing that sounds fun...to YOU. Our energy and passion when doing things with our kids (or lack thereof) is contagious. If we are bored to tears they will know. If we feel like a kid again and are a little giddy because we get to do weird silly experiments with food or whatever...they will know. Do something that you can get into, and they will follow suit.
Here are a few ideas of fun leaning directions you could go (these are the different categories often included in pre-school curriculums that you can utilize to learn AND have a blast while doing it). Notice how all the main school subjects are covered:
Write a story together (English/Language Arts)- Is your kid coming up with wild potato ideas and really getting into the storytelling? Offer to go grab some paper and help them make up a silly story about potatoville complete with pictures and a potato adventure.
Fine Motor Skills (Muscle Memory/writing/Art)- Play with shapes and talk about how potatoes are ovals. practice drawing ovals together, discussing the difference between ovals and circles and drawing silly faces on them. If you child is learning letters, it's a great time to practice the letter P.
Get in the Kitchen (Practical skills/math)- Have some potatoes on hand? Get cooking together for a hands on kid-friendly cooking lesson making baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, or whatever kind of potatoes you like best. Feel like really going on an adventure? Go on a spontaneous trip to the farmers market and buy some local potatoes for dinner.
Do a Science Experiment (Science/reasoning)- Did you love science experiments as a kid? Bring out your inner scientist and do a quick Google or Pinterest search for easy potato science activities. Changes are you can find at least one with things you have around the house.
More Books! (Literature)- Do you have kid that is hungry for knowledge, facts, and loves to deep dive into learning about different things? Grab any other books you have about potatoes, farming, or gardening and dig in together. Watch a youtube video about how potatoes are grown and go down learning rabbit holes together.
Free Play (Problem Solving, Creative Thinking)- Maybe your child really got into their small world play and they just want to stay and play in potatoville all day...awesome! sometimes going with their ideas means keeping it simple and letting them get lost in imaginative play instead of forcing them to come and do all these amazing learning activities we have dreamed up. In fact...our biggest obstacle to our kids leading the way is often our own great agenda.
Have a dance party (Music/Rhythm/Exercise)- Find a silly song about potatoes or gardening and grab some instruments or pots and spoons to make your very own potato farmer band.
When you say yes to the ideas of kids, they start to say yes to themselves and their own unique ideas. I'd be willing to bet money they can 't wait to play in potatoville again and show their other family members their cool day and share about all the crazy potato stuff you did together...all because you picked up a book and said yes.
Tips for Parents Who Like to Plan: The categories above are the same categories you would see in a boxed curriculum. The only difference is that you are using something your kid came up with (in this case potatoes) as your muse. If you want to help guide or plan more of the activities you end up doing here are a few tips to help:
- Carefully select the books you are putting in your book pile (chances are you can actually guide your child to exactly the theme you want them to end up on and help them take ownership so they still feel like it's "their" idea).
- Write down and plan ahead general materials for different "subjects" that you can basically incorporate any theme into. Some examples would be:
Enjoy the journey!
]]>If you are wanting to encourage your child to play for longer periods of time, here are 3 important things that could help them to get in the play zone and stay there.
Help Get them Started The Smart Way
Just telling kids to go play or even walking them to a room with their toys is many times not enough to help them really get going with the open-ended play you are so hoping for. One of the best ways to get kids of any age to start playing is to sit down with them for a few minutes (even just two or three minutes will many times do the trick). Start playing with the open-ended toys you are trying to get them to play with. Hand them a toy and work on something together. When you see an idea of theirs start to click and they get going...they have entered the play zone. At this point they are probably not as aware of your presence as they were and it's a great time to quietly leave them to play solo. Don't talk to them or break their concentration when you are leaving or you may go back to square one.
Play Some Music To Help Them Stay in the Zone
Many times some calming music can really help stimulate ideas and keep kids playing for longer periods of time. Especially for more social kids who like to be with people, music really helps them to engage their minds and hearts as they move their bodies and can really help them stay in the play zone longer. Be mindful with the kind of energy that the music has because your child will pick up and mimic that same energy. If you are wanting a clam, peaceful play time, pick calm, peaceful music. If you are wanting to get them energized and moving, pick more upbeat music. Though times of silence and quiet are also important in the lives of kids, when children are young and are easily distracted and move from activity to activity, having music in the room you want them to stay and play in can be a great play magnet and something that helps them stay put and get lost in their play longer. Create a few go-to playlists for just that purpose so the next time your child enters the play zone you are ready.
Let Them Have Space and Keep Your Distance
This may be one of the most important tips for getting your child to play longer. When we see or hear our child make progress, try an idea, or start a new kind of play, it's really tempting to give them compliments or make comments. This actually makes them aware of our presence and make them "snap out" of the play zone and often will break their concentration and even possibly make them self-conscious of whatever they were trying. I can always tell in the car when my kids forget I'm there because they sing at the top of their lungs, make up songs, and if either my husband or I make a comment (even a positive one), they immediately clam up and stop singing because they either lost their train of thought or forgot we were there altogether and feel too self-aware to be in the spotlight. If they are playing well...leave them alone and make yourself as scarce as possible. If they see or hear you...they will almost always be drawn to you and leave their play.
Following these simple but effective tips can make a big difference and help kids to really get in the creative play zone and actually playing with their toys. Check out our blog for more easy play tips to transform your child's play!
Enjoy the Journey!
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Are you looking to encourage your toddlers creativity but you don't know how? Here are 5 tips to encourage the creativity without being pushy.
Giving your toddler a little corner to develop their creative skills that they know is just for them can make all the difference for kids. Many times we create these spaces in separate rooms thinking the kids will play in one place and we can get things done in another, and though sometimes that does work for short periods of time, often what ends up happening is they bring their stuff and camp out exactly where we don't want them to be. If we anticipate this need for our young kids to be near us and intentionally crate a space near where we usually are for them to create, they will be near us and can play side by side with their open-ended toys and we take care of other things, all while still showing them that they are valued and that we also want them near us.
It is really easy to have a mental list going of all the things we want our kids to learn and to make sure they do not fall "behind" in learning milestones. It is also easy to turn every time we join them in play to be a "teachable moment" where we unintentionally suck the fun out of their creative time. Remember, we don't have to give explicit instruction for them to learn...in fact...they learn more when we do not. The most important thing for kids to develop in the younger years is a LOVE of creating, open-ended play, learning, and exploring. In order for them to love it...it has to be fun. That doesn't mean we entertain, helicopter parent to make sure they are having "fun" 100 percent of the time, or even that we solve all their problems for them.
What it does mean is that we get out of the way so that their ideas, not ours, can take off and that we are holding our expectations loosely enough that there is space for theirs. Then next time your child is playing and you see the perfect opportunity to jump in and teach....why not instead hold back and watch instead? After they are done playing, a few thoughtful open-ended questions can go much further than a lecture where we tell them exactly what to think. Children have amazing minds and if give them time to think and come up with their own questions they will teach us even more than we teach them.
While we want to keep play fun, there are some things that, if not addressed, can truly inhibit our kids from making progress and successfully opening up that door to possibility.
Getting Started- Sometimes getting started is the hardest part. Sit down WITH your child and just start playing. Don't tell them what you are doing or explain about how they should play...just start playing and watch them come to you and join in. If they take a risk and try something...go with that and add a bit more or ask a thoughtful question. Once they start to get engrossed in the play and seem like they have an idea going...quietly step away and let them drive solo.
Getting Stuck- One of the hardest things during play is often when kids have an idea that they immediately want to see success with and their are road block or things that don't go according to play. If you child is just getting started with open-ended play this will take a bit more coaching and you may need to get involved the first few times but just like building the muscles of creativity kids need to build the muscles of problem-solving. The next time your kid gets stuck with a creative idea...join them and model what a fun challenge experimenting with different solutions can be and how you often end up with something even better than if your plan had gone smoothly. It's also a great idea for your kids to see your problem-solving process in everyday life, and taking the time to slow down and explain and have them join in helping YOU solve a problem you have in a fun way. Practicing this skill when it's not up to them can not only create a bond with you in that moment, but stick with them the next time THEY need to solve a problem.
As much as coaching is important, knowing what are appropriate expectations for kids at different ages is key. Something we might think is easy or should be quick to learn might actually need to be broken into multiple steps or might even be beyond the developmental stage our kids are in. If you notice that even with coaching something seems too difficult for your child, do a quick google search to educate yourself about that particular skill to make sure it's not asking too much. Much like learning to read where ideally kids are reading books with mostly words they know and few they don't, play should be similar in that we should guide them to things we know that can be mostly successful at with a few new skills that can be achieved with effort. If they are all new skills and there is nothing familiar they can have quick success with, it will be easy to get to discouraged and give up.
We have heard the studies about how exposing kids to certain foods may take many tries before they start to like that particular food...sometimes it's as many as 20! When helping kids to develop the muscles to be creative, think long term. Sometimes it's easy to feel that our kids are not making much progress as we see them get frustrated, ignore toys we wish they would play with more, or don't come up with the complex play set-ups we had in mind when we purchased certain items. Over time, all the little progress they make will add up, and in the meantime, just having the atmosphere in which they play be one of positivity, encouragement, and low pressure risk-taking in can set the scene for more complex play later on. They memories (think emotions) they are connecting to all the little moments in play now will keep them coming back again and again as they make little progress here and there. All the little encouraging sayings and phrases we use with them will become their inner voice, and keeping it fun, light, and positive now will make creative spaces a second home for them throughout their life. At this point it is not so much the progress they are making, but the emotional connections they are making to what it feels like to create and the responses they get while they are doing it. Little steps taken each day add up to a long way over the course of a lifetime! Keep at it and the progress will come in their own unique way and time.
Enjoy the journey!
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A new school year is upon us, and it's time to yet again gather resources, teaching tools, books, and maybe even some fun surprises to help get our kids excited about starting a new grade.
Here are 3 School supplies that grow with your children that can be used for years and years and will grow with your children through the lower grades.
Yes, it is worth splurging on quality paper, pencils, and colors that your children will use at home. It may be tempting to grab the super cheap options, but the difference between the cheapest quality and even a mid- level brand can be huge and well worth the extra dollars in longevity, performance, and even results. For instance, really cheap pencils don't last nearly as long because break very easily, and though for class supplies that everyone shares it may not be worth it, not to have to sharpen a pencil at home every 5 minutes could prevent many a meltdown over the course of the year. We want to do everything we can to make the experience of learning smooth, enjoyable, and use supplies that will hold up to the task.
For kids in pre-school and early elementary, connecting what they are learning on paper to play and real life experiences is key for brain retention. Having a small amount of versatile toys or items they can use to teach you back the material helps information go from short to long term memory. Some great open-ended learning tools to invest in are:
Never underestimate the power of a simple dry erase board for kids to use instead of paper for a sensory activity to practice reading, writing, and even math. the novelty of using big fun markers and erasing answers over and over breaks up the writing enough that they get tiny breaks in-between and is often just the ticket for a change of pace from pencil and paper. Call it a learning "game", and save the dry erase boards for those time ONLY to make even more special. A few simple ways to use them:
An open mind
While it's not technically a school supply, it might be the most important component that can make or break any other ingredient. It's almost a guarantee that be it school at home, playschool, or after school homework, our best laid plans very often do not go according to plan. As a mom myself, I know that the times I get the most frustrated are when I have a specific idea of what order things should go in or detailed ideas about the amazing learning that will take place. If we remain flexible and even teachable as students ourselves (of our kids), they will let us know what works best for them, and with great tools at our disposal and a heavy helping of patience, we can help faciliate a love of learning in an environment that honors they unique ways of learning. At the end of their years, how they felt while they were learning and the tone of the atmosphere can be THE key ingredient to helping them foster a love of learning.
Enjoy the Journey!
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For Sybren, extending this concept to play allows for children to communicate in the way they know best.
"For me as a designer that's a huge plus that it is the child that takes it away to the whole next level with what can be done with it. That is the benefit of open-ended play...leaving enough open for the child to do what they want with and create their own fantasies. For instance four years ago it was children who figured out that if you get the roads wet you can stick them to the side of the bath and they noticed that."
We are so excited to welcome Multilingual Speech Language Pathologist and Apraxia Specialist Naomi from @achievespeech to talk about Teaching Speech and Language through play!
I’m a busy mom, with an even busier toddler. As a multilingual speech-language pathologist, clinical owner, clinician supervisor and toddler mom, I am always on the hunt to find the most functional open-ended toys and activities for my son Evan and my students. When I came across Waytoplay roads, I was astonished at the endless opportunities to build confidence in speech and language development.
What are Waytoplay roads and why does a speech-language pathologist recommend it?
Waytoplay roads are flexible roads which allow your child to play in endless variations in open-ended ways. There are no “rules” to follow aside from allowing your child to explore all the possibilities of creativity. You can use these roads both indoors and outdoors, as they are weatherproof! Use them in the bathtub, at the beach, in the living room, in the classroom and in therapy sessions.
Open-ended play is imperative as it allows children the opportunity to use their talents and imaginations as well as communication with their play partners (peers, family members or therapists).
Early intervention Speech and Language Development
Early intervention is the BEST prevention when it comes to speech-language delays. One question I get asked often is “What is the best YouTube show I can put on so my child learns to speak.” My answer is a hard and solid “None”. In order to provide language opportunities for your little one, you need to be present, you need to follow their lead of interest and you need to provide verbal/visual models of the language during interactive play.
For instance, my 15-month-old son and I were working on the words “up, down, go” last week. We created a little city with our Waytoplay roads, created a “ramp” by lining up roads on top of a foam climber and used our own wooden trees and houses to complete the city.
I held up the car by my mouth (VERY important for visual modeling) and produced “up” and then took the car and drove it up the ramp with Evan. I did the same for “down”, first modeling the word with the car by my mouth and the driving it down the ramp. We practice a loud and “ready, set GO” as the car came crashing down into the city, causing giggles and laughter.
Building Language
Assembling and cleaning up toys are a wonderful way to work on building language, especially when you have variations of how a toy can be used. With our Waytoplay roads we worked on the following language words/phrases while assembling out roads:
The opportunities are endless…have fun and let your child lead the way!
If you liked this blog you might also like:
Talking about emotions with open-ended play
Using open-ended play to talk about hard things with children
One big thing that will help you connect with your kids
Reasons your child isn't playing with their toys and what to do about it
If open-ended play isn't working, here's what you can do to fix it
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In a previous blog post, Larissa addressed how pairing open-ended play with books helps to build literacy and language. My daughter has benefited greatly from aligning engaging books with related play activities to learn about the world around her.
With thousands of books to choose from, how do you find the right books for your kids?
My daughter is passionate about transportation, so the recommendations below are for books that she enjoys alongside her waytoplay roads.
Book Ideas for City Play
Book Ideas for Community Helpers
Book Ideas for Airport Play
Book Ideas for Road Construction
Book Ideas for General Transportation
Explore transportation books that fit your child’s interests and pair them with fun open-ended play using waytoplay roads. You’ll be amazed at what your child comes up with!
Silvia from @fairyglitchmother returns to bring us some amazing waytoplay road ideas!
The waytoplay road is an incredible open-ended toy that allows your children (and you) to create toy roads and worlds. It is a flexible race track made from child-safe rubber, fantastic for endless fun. We love to play with it at home, and it has been one of our favorite play activities this summer. We bought the Way to play King of the Road set for my son's 3rd birthday, and he loved it. We've been playing and creating ever since.
When we started to play with the set, we began piecing segments together, and then we realized that, on many occasions, we couldn't make the track close perfectly. Then, of course, we could overlap the final segments at the end, but that bothered me a bit (and my son too).
I know that the beauty of open-ended toys is to explore without rules and have fun. So we've created many open roads that lead to nowhere and everywhere simultaneously, without any planning or strategy in mind. And it has been a blast. But I also like to create beautiful designs and close tracks, which is more challenging (I couldn't find many examples in one place).
If you are anything like me and want some road design ideas, you've come to the right place. So I thought I'd share with you the ones we have created at home for some quick and easy inspiration.
There are many reasons why we enjoy and encourage our children to play with the road:
It is lovely and so much fun.
The waytoplay road is a flexible race track made from child-safe rubber fantastic for endless fun. It is a collection of road segments, race tracks, parking spaces, and crossings in different sets that can be combined.
We got the King of the Road bundle; it comes with 40 pieces to create many tracks. It is their most extensive set. The box comes with 16 curves, 16 straights, 4 intersections, and 4 roundabouts. So if you want 648cm of fun, this is the box for you (they've measured it 😉 ).
All pieces are reversible and have a different design on each side. The only exceptions are the intersections and roundabouts, which have the same design on both sides. Here you can see what you have on each side and what you can expect. It is also great to combine it with the other sets of the waytoplay family.
It's time to see some designs! I've taken the liberty to name them to differentiate between them because there are 15 here, which made things easier for me.
I hope you will like them!
Perfect fit Closed-circuit Way to play road designs
I love these designs. I like combining curves and straights to make race tracks. The cars can go on forever here. I've used all the 16 curves in the following two designs, so you need the King of the Road or more than one of the other waytoplay sets to create these.
For the next five designs, I've also added some straight sections. You either have all the 16 curves or all the 16 straights - which is why it can only be done with the King of the Road or combining more than one set.
Here we are introducing the intersection and roundabout pieces for crossings. There will probably be more traffic and car concentration now 😉 even more if you place traffic lights 🤣
If you'd like even more ideas, you can check over 10 more for basic shapes, closed-circuits with overlaps or roads with the Wobbel board on the full post here. They are great fun too!
And, of course, you can always create open-ended roads that lead to everywhere and nowhere at the same time. They don't close or fit; they go until you are out of pieces to add to the road. So there is no need for designs here 😉. Instead, I'm leaving these to your imagination because I am sure they will be unique and wonderful. You don't need my help here.
The road is made from the highest grade flexible PVC, and it has passed testing to the most demanding norms. They say that it is supposed to last a lifetime and is practically indestructible, even for children!
They have been tested and are free of BPA, cadmium, PAH, lead, and Phthalates. If you have a silicone allergy, it is also safe for you.
So the roads are durable, waterproof, safe, and flexible - that makes them the perfect ally for hours and years of play.
You won't find a store with a more extensive selection than this one: the waytoplay store. You'll find everything here! You can also use their store locator to find a small shop near you to buy local.
I honestly believe this is one of those toys that will be with us for a very long time. Probably my children's children (if they decide to have children) will be able to play with them too.
I hope that putting this together will help other families get started and enjoy the King of the Road set. We had trouble making closed circuits, so I am guessing we are not the only ones out there with this problem. ☺️ I hope this will be useful.
Probably I'm the one having the most fun setting up roads by piecing the segments together and decorating them as small worlds 😅 🤣 but my children love to join and drive their cars anywhere we go. Of course, once my son has finished playing, he likes creating a bit of chaos before tidying up. It's all part of the experience.
Happy playing!
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When I think about my children’s literacy development as a mom, my mind often goes straight to the ABC’s. But did you know that literacy development actually starts much earlier than that? Building oral language skills (the speaking and understanding of speech) is important to the literacy development of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and beyond. Even older children who are already beginning to read and write need to continue to build oral language skills as they strengthen their vocabulary and story-telling skills.
In our house, two of our favorite tools for building language are picture books and open-ended toys, and we find that they’re even more powerful when we use them together! Our waytoplay sets are among our favorite open-ended toys for building language. In just the way that real roads build connections between locations, our toy road and runway sets build connections between concepts in books and concepts in the children’s play. These connections build opportunities for growth and learning.
Here are some of my favorite ways to use picture books with waytoplay toys to build language:
Bring books into the play space. This can be as simple as displaying a few books in your playroom or as elaborate as putting out themed books near related toys or invitations to play. Some kids are actually more attentive to books while they’re playing- don’t be afraid to read aloud while they’re engaged with their toys.
Introduce many books with vehicle and animal sounds, especially for older infants and toddlers. It can feel goofy and cumbersome repeatedly reading “vroom” and “moo” aloud, but learning those sounds is so important to young children’s acquisition of phonemic awareness (the awareness of sounds in oral language). We love books with fun sounds, like the ones pictured above (Cars Go and Planes Go both by Steve Light). Make those same vehicle or animal sounds when playing with corresponding toys on your waytoplay sets to reinforce your child’s learning, and encourage your children to do the same.
Use books to build vocabulary. For the youngest children, this can be pointing out pictures in books and labeling them, such as a picture of an airplane. This learning experience is so much more powerful when you’re sitting in your play space with your roads and toy airplanes out too! It helps children to understand that the image of an airplane is a symbol for the toy. This understanding of symbols is a precursor to learning letters. Toddlers and preschoolers can have fun turning this into a game as they match their toys with images in a favorite book.
Books with detailed pictures and many things to find (like In the Town All Year Round, pictured above) are great for building vocabulary as you ask children to find specific images in the pictures. They can also play that same look and find game in their play space to further build connections.
Recreate favorite scenes from books to deepen children’s comprehension. We love using our waytoplay sets to build scenes from our favorite books. This gives us so many opportunities to label what we see in books, re-tell stories, and build sequencing skills. For example, one of my children’s favorite ways to engage with In the Town All Year Round is to find the parrot that’s hidden on each page. They had so much fun building their own town with our road sets and hiding and finding our toy parrot- all the while building and using vocabulary related to positioning (such as over, under, in and out).
Build storytelling skills with picture books and open-ended toys. Before children can write a story, they need to be able to tell a story. Picture books and open-ended toys are both great tools for building that skill- and even better when you use them together. You can encourage preschool and school-aged children to use small world play toys (like waytoplay roads and cars, peg dolls, and blocks) to recreate a scene from a book and then tell you what might happen next to a character. Encourage the children to add many details to their play scenes - this will support them in learning to add details to their stories. Toddlers might not be ready to tell a whole story, but you can encourage them to extend their description of their play. For example, a toddler might say, “car goes,” as they vroom their car down their road, and you can ask or suggest where the car is going to. Having a picture book on hand is a great way to generate some ideas!
Our waytoplay road sets have helped our children to build so many great language and literacy skills. I love seeing how they nurture the children’s imagination and learning!
A big thanks to our guest blogger Larissa from @kindnesscastle!
If you are new to waytoplay, you can check out this blog for an in-depth look at our flexible roads!
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My son really started playing with cars a lot just before he turned 3 years old. He had a garage and liked to see the cars go down the ramp but I guess he wanted to know where they could go next. He'd ask us to create tracks so he could play and make his cars go around. We made them with wood planks or we would draw a city on some taped papers. One day we came across the waytoplay road and decided it would be our birthday gift for him, and I'm so glad we did!
He still is little to grasp its full potential and he just creates random patterns and circuits that never close. He loves to put all his cars in line and create traffic jams. I am sure this will be one of those toys that will grow with him and we'll be playing with it often in the coming years. We've taken it with us during the holidays and we've had a lot of fun! This flexible road is simply amazing.
So, the waytoplay road is an open ended toy that will allow your children to create toy roads and worlds that have only lived in their imagination until then. It is a flexible race track made from child safe rubber, fantastic for endless fun. It is a collection of road segments, race tracks, parking spaces, crossings, all in different sets that can be combined together.
The road was created by Dutch designer, inventor and father Sybren Jelles. As a child he loved playing with toy cars outdoors, and he created waytoplay for his son Joep, in 2003. This passion led down a road of evolution to the flexible weatherproof toy road that we can all enjoy today.
We got the King of the Road bundle, with 40 pieces and you have tracks to create many circuits. You get 16 curves, 16 straights, 4 intersections and 4 roundabouts. A total of 648cm of fun.
There are many good reasons why we enjoy and encourage our children playing with it...
It is fantastic.
We decided to take the road out for a run during our summer holidays and honestly, you can play with them anywhere. It is true that the tracks hold better together on a hard surface, but check out all the terrains we've played on - it's still been fun
On a wooden floor...
By the pool...
Underwater inside the pool...
Running through grass...
At the beach - on dry sand…
…or on wet sand (be careful, if the waves come in they might take some pieces away… luckily they didn't go far)
Over and under the Wobbel board...
On carpets...
We still need to try it up the bath tub and bathroom walls. It's on our to do list ;)
As you can see, we've had a fun summer ;)
Again, it works best on hard surfaces because it holds in place much better… but you can make them work anywhere your imagination takes you.
My son loves puzzles and he saw it as a way to build a big track piecing the segments together. He is still little and can not figure out how to design a close ended circuit… but maybe he will in time if that is what he envisions.
Since it was a little difficult for him at first, I started creating small circuits and decorating them as a way to inspire him (and lets face it, I was having a great time). My 5 year old daughter likes to give me a hand creating the world around the track, with trees and loose parts. And later my son plays or likes to generate a bit of chaos.
After watching us, my son then started decorating his tracks with the Grimms houses, some animals and just place as many cars as possible to create a traffic jam. We play with all his cars, be it wooden, metalic or plastic… if they have wheels they can go on the road ;)
Playing just with the track is loads of fun, but if you combine it with other toys it is just fantastic. (I think I enjoy this part too much 😅 ).
As bridges and tunnels we use Grimms wooden rainbow, the Bilibo seat or the Wobbel board.
For people we use Grimms rainbow friends, Tomtems from Grapat, Janod story characters or any superhero or princess that my children like to add to the party.
As for other decorative elements we use Grimms semicircles to create mini worlds or terrains within the world…
the Grimms' houses as buildings around the town or city and Grimms' rainbow cones or Janod's trees as trees…
and finally loose parts like the Mandala pieces from Grapat make it more elaborate and beautiful…
You can play and add whatever you have around! We still have not combined it with our train tracks, but I'm sure we'll be doing so very soon 😉
The roads are said to last a lifetime. On their website they say that it is practically indestructible, even for children! It is made from the highest grade flexible PVC and it has passed testing to the most demanding norms.
Waytoplay roads have been tested and are free of BPA, cadmium, PAH, lead and Phthalates. Is is also safe for those with silicon allergies.
So the roads are durable, waterproof, safe and flexible... the perfect ally for hours and years of play.
I haven't seen them in many toy stores but you can use the store locator to purchase them from a small shop and you can also buy them from the waytoplay online store that ships worldwide.
If there is one final thing I can say about this amazing toy, creating tracks and worlds and playing with it made me feel like a child again. And this was key to having more fun together as a family. I highly recommend it. You'll love it.
If you'd like to have a look at other gift ideas for a 3 year old, check out this post ;)
Please share with us your ideas, how you play with it and what your thoughts are! We'd love to know!
Happy playing!*
]]>Five minutes later...barely enough time to make our coffee let alone drink it or snap a picture of the work of art that is our invitation to play, our kids have demolished the small world we created, pulled out every single “small part” we so neatly arranged, and have turned the playroom into a scene from Jumanji that we will spend our evening cleaning up.
We can have all the things, know all the things, and end up discouraged at the lack of success in facilitating open-ended play if a few key components are missing or mixed up. Here are five key principles that make open-ended play work.
The fastest way to get frustrated with how open-ended play is going with our children is to come into the journey with very specific (and if we’re honest very controlling) ideas about what open-ended play should look like. For our kids to really internalize the immense benefits from this kind of play at a deep level, we need to first release our own romanticized version of imaginative play for the very flawed, very messy, and oftentimes very “out of our control” nature of what real open-ended play looks like in making. We need to ask ourselves very honestly what ideas we need to let go of in order to make space for the ideas of our children to take flight.
In order for real open-ended play to thrive, we must first really understand and believe in the power of play itself, and make play our priority and not what it looks like. Of course, there are lots of wonderful open-ended toys to slowly and thoughtfully add to your home over the years that really do add dimension to play, but rushing out to spend your life savings to buy them all in a month will not magically change your children. Knowing WHY your family is committed to open-ended play and believing in the impact it will have WILL change your children in the long run because it will help you say no to screens more, help you put up with the whining when they are bored, and help you give them time and space to figure it out. Your house may not look like the social media pictures you envisioned, but then again, real life rarely does. If you are just beginning this journey and are looking for a great book that introduces many of the concepts surrounding open-ended play, Simplicity Parenting is a great start.
When kids are transitioning from the type of play that entertains them, switching to open-ended play where a lot is required of their brain can sometimes be a jarring transition. Like any habit, it takes time, patience, and dedication to change. Slowly phasing out excess screen time, purging certain types of toys, and moving into a slower, more thoughtful mode of play will result in lasting change. In place of the things being removed, make sure to fill those times with rewarding slower activities to build awareness and focus like going on walks in nature, meaningful play together, and reading books together to name a few. Slowly as the simple things come alive again, a different kind of play will begin to take shape.
Helping children understand the importance of and practice the habit of cleaning up after play may be one of the most over-looked components to making open-ended play work long term without totally burning out from the mess in the process. This is also where having every single open-ended toy you own all out at the same time may be more of a hindrance than a help. In our house, we started with our very basic and most used open-ended toys including basic wooden blocks, magna-tiles, our waytoplay roads and cars, our curvy board, and some wooden peg dolls and Schleich animals. Once the kids could put those away without putting up a fuss (I did it with them for a long time and made it fun with an upbeat playlist), I would add something else. How much you have out at once will vary widely based on ages and personalities, but the key is to start with what is an easy amount for your child to clean up independently and work up from there to your desired amount of toys. But remember, less really is more when it comes to open-ended toys.
If you are having trouble getting your child to play with their toys in general, you can find more tips about how to address playroom and toy issues here.
Looking in the mirror may be the hardest (and most revealing) thing of all to help us troubleshoot why open-ended play isn’t working in our home. Do we take away all electronics and boast about our house full of open-ended toys only to scroll on our phones the entire time our children are playing? Do our children actually ever see us enjoying the same kinds of things we are asking them to do such as slowing down to notice the world around us, engage deeply with each other, and sit long enough to work out a hard problem instead of giving up and moving on to something easier? Our kids will do as we do, not as we say, and if we are willing to really see, we might find the best clues about the key to unlock new potential if we are willing to take inventory of our own habits and the example we are setting by what we ourselves do.
Enjoy the Journey,
Sarah
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We have a wonderful guest post today by Sarah, a child psychologist and social/emotional play specialist. You can find more of her play resources here. Read below for a game she created to talk about emotions using her waytoplay roads including the free download to the emotion cards to go with the game.
Emotions game with waytoplay: take turns drawing a card with a question and road shape using the free downloadable cards to create a large road together as you learn about each other and give children simple ways to think about and express how different things make them feel. Here is Sarah's explanation of how she created the game and her thinking behind it:
“My kids don't always love to talk about emotions, but they love building and playing games. I made a simple game with our waytoplay roads and created cards with simple emotions questions, and a road segment. The goal of the game was to build a big road together by taking turns answering the questions on the cards and then adding the road segment on each card to our big road. My kids loved it and they had lots of silly responses to the emotions questions.
We were gifted this set of waytoplay roads, but mixed in is our own set of roads that we've had for over 2 years (and they're still in great shape). The roads have been a wonderful and open-ended toy for my kids to build with and they love adding the roads to their play and building creations. The emotions road cards are available to download using this link.”
To find more ideas intentional play ideas with open-ended play, follow us on Pinterest.
]]>What’s the big deal about STEAM learning? Why are schools talking about it and teachers trying to incorporate it? To put it simply... It gives children a process to build a growth mindset...with actual steps. It also aims to integrate learning in real life situations by combining different subjects like science, technology, engineering, art, and math so learning is connected and children can learn organically without having to make giant leaps from one subject to another.
If you would like to encourage a growth mindset in your child using STEAM learning but are not ready to launch an entire STEAM project, fear not. There are many smaller concepts that make STEAM so effective that you can practice right at home that will not only help your student build these muscles when they do use them at school, but will take their open-ended play to the next level and pave the road for new challenges and excitement in learning.
The good news...you are probably already incorporating some of these tools into your open-ended play! As you read through these concepts that are essential to STEAM learning, make a note of one or two things you can be more purposeful with as you encourage your child in their play. Though the changes you help your child make now to the way they approach problem-solving may seem small, just like changing the direction of your car by a few degrees, over the course of a long trip or years in a child’s life, those few degrees can make a big difference in the long run and greatly impact the depth of their critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration skills. Once your child starts to practice this approach to problem-solving, they will naturally start to incorporate these concepts on their own in every area of life.
NOTE: Below are concepts used in STEAM learning and though they do not represent an entire steam project without including all the STEAM subjects, they are key areas to work on that will help in enriching open-ended play, building a growth mindset, and communicating with others.
Your child is playing in the other room and you hear frustrated sounds, a scream, and a toy being thrown on the ground. As parents, one of our first impulses is to help, which often looks like us giving the solution to whatever problem they are facing so they continue to play and we can continue doing what we were doing. The first step to STEAM thinking... DON’T take away or solve the problem FOR them. Come alongside them and encourage them to come up with creative solutions TOGETHER with whomever they are playing with.
To begin, Identify and talk through what the specific problem is they are trying to solve. The great news is that open-ended play (by its very nature) is full of roadblocks waiting to be removed and detours waiting to be paved. In order to understand the problem they also need to be able to identify where it is they want to go and why they can’t get there. In essence, they need to begin with the end in mind.
In order to come up with a creative solution, encourage your child to look closer at the problem and gather as much information as they can about why the problem exists and what is contributing to it. Most children skip this part and go immediately to trying solutions without gathering information, and when a poorly thought out solution doesn’t work, they get frustrated and abandon the play or project altogether because they feel defeated. Going into detail with whatever problem they are facing (and collecting clues like a mystery to be solved) will not only help them to succeed, but also teach them to appreciate the problem itself by becoming curious instead of giving up. This is also the step where you can teach them something they need to know in order to solve the problem (how much "teaching" is needed will depend on age and skill level).
Collaborating means communicating with each other as a team to build on each other’s ideas. This means having meaningful dialogue back and forth, bouncing ideas off each other, and taking a piece of someone else’s idea and adding a bit of yours to make a new combination or idea. If your child is used to playing or building alone, encourage them to work as a team with siblings, friends, or with you to create a solution together by taking turns in decision making. This is easier said than done because it’s most common for one person to make all the decisions instead of taking the time to listen and learn from different ideas until everyone is on the same page. As you probably have experienced (in any group project ever), communicating and collaborating takes much more time than working alone, but in order to build STEAM skills, learning to work together as a team is key. You can demonstrate what it looks like to be a patient listener, to stay positive, and to make sure that everyone participating feels heard and gets to contribute.
This is the fun part (and may happen multiple times if one solution doesn’t work and they go back to the collaborating step). If approached with thoughtful curiosity, a sense of fun, and no set expectation of solving the problem right away, trying (and even failing) at finding a solution can be an adventure in itself and even give your child new ideas to solve the problem! Many brilliant inventions and ideas were made when something didn’t go to plan, and having to work hard to succeed makes the victory that much sweeter when a successful solution is found!
This is when they get to show someone not already on the team what they came up with and demonstrate their solution along with an explanation about their thought process. This not only gives them practice articulating their thoughts and presenting their ideas, but allows for feedback from others and practice taking constructive criticism and using it for growth.
This step is when the feedback given is taken and used to refine the solution even further and make any necessary changes. Sometimes this means starting the process over, and sometimes it just means adjusting something a bit to make it even better.
It's amazing how the tools for successful play and problem-solving are so applicable to us as adults as well as children and as is always the case with parenting, we see our own attitudes reflected in our kids and can sometimes identify the areas where work is needed because that is where we struggle ourselves in the problem-solving process. If we take the time to listen to our own frustration and work through it using these steps, we will be better able to help our children do the same and even share with them times where we needed to persist in order to find the road ahead.
Enjoy the Journey,
Sarah
For more open-ended play learning tips, follow Waytoplay on Pinterest!
STEAM Resources:
The History of How STEAM came about
Steam At-Home Quickstart Guide
Free Arts Integration and STEAM Lessons
Your Guide to STEAM Design Challenges
FREE STEAM Curriculum Planning Toolkit
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1. Do they have too many choices?
Most of the time, instead of having too few choices, our children have too many. Children are easily over-stimulated and having too many options can be overwhelming and actually cause them to play less because they have too many decisions to make to even get started. Take into consideration your child’s personality as you ask these questions as the answers and solutions may be different depending on the child. Solutions to this problem can be getting rid of certain toys or rotating toys so less are out at one time.
2. Is the toy a tool or a form of entertainment?
One of the key questions when bringing a toy into my home is how it will be used as its primary function. Is the toy a tool or a form of entertainment? A tool is something that is used in order to build or make something and aid in the building process. I want the majority of the toys in my home to be tools that build creativity, imagination, critical-thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. A toy that entertains is something that provides amusement. Though we all like to be amused sometimes, the key aim of what I want for my children in their play is not simply amusement. If my child has spent her or his childhood constantly being amused, not only does this waste precious time where the child could be an inventor, an architect, a writer, a musician, a jungle explorer among many many other things, it develops the chief desire...to be amused. Instead of being passive, I want my kids to be active and engaged thinkers, creators, problem-solvers, and idea dreamers. In order to encourage those things I begin with the end in mind and work backwards to introduce toys that will help encourage the qualities in my kids that will continue to challenge and inspire them throughout their lives.
Note: If you are transitioning from mostly entertaining toys to "tools", expect a season of resistance, lots of phrases like "I'm bored", and even a bit of frustration with how much "work" it is to have fun playing with toys that make them think. It may take a good deal of feeling bored and frustrated, sort of like a toy "detox " period. Though uncomfortable for both you and your child, staying the course will be worth it once your child finds the freedom and space to unleash their imagination. During this period they will need LOTS of encouragement, more time with you playing parallel to them, and creative invitations to play until this type of play becomes more natural.
3. Is there a clear space to play with their toys?
This may seem like a silly question, and a trick one for parents of small children (for whom it sometimes seems impossible to keep any surface “clear” for even a short period of time), but having some kind of empty, open area is crucial in order for kids to have space to imagine, build, explore, and well...be kids. I don’t mean a huge space, just some floor space in some room where they have free reign and space to move. Getting rid of my coffee table was the best thing I ever did for my play space as it allows for spontaneous dancing, the building of towers and cities, as well as blanket forts and theatrical productions. Even if your other rooms are less than clean, try to keep at least one open area in the house clear... like a fresh sheet of paper just waiting for a work of art. If you don't have an area like this in your house, consider making a more open space in one room and have a goal to keep it open and clear to encourage open-ended play.
4. Do they know what their options are (can they see them)?
The principle “out of sight out of mind” absolutely applies to toys. Though we have a tendency to pile toys in bins, boxes, and drawers, not only does it make it harder for children to remember what their options are, it usually makes a bigger mess daily because children must take out all the toys to find one. I love beautiful, well-made toys because they are a joy to put on display and it’s much easier to give them each a place for easy access and clean-up. Visit our toy storage Pinterest board for lots of beautiful ideas.
5. Are the toys developmentally appropriate for the ages of my children?”
Often times if a child becomes increasingly frustrated during play it is for one of these two reasons: either they are too used to toys where they don’t have to think and need to build up a growth mindset about sticking with “hard” things like toys where they need to problem solve, or other times a child simply isn’t ready for the skills it takes to play with a toy. I have always been the kind of mom to think ahead and save up or ask for nicer toys that I know will grow with my children, but along with that also comes the temptation to push them to play with toys they simply are not ready to play with (independently). If that is the case for a toy, some options are to play alongside the child and help them until they develop the skills to play with that toy independently (or only take it out when we can play with them), help them develop a few key skills that are needed to have success playing with a toy and get them started (like teaching my daughter how to make corners with her magnetic tiles so she can reinforce structures without them falling down), or put the toy away and try again after a period of time (this is my most common solution). Just like pushing a child to read before they are ready can cause frustration for parent and child and possibly a negative relationship to books in the long run, the same concept applies to toys and as parents waiting until a child is developmentally ready for a toy will make playing a delight and create lasting fond memories of open-ended play.
Which of these questions might be a road block to think through in order to help your child find new freedom, inspiration, and the order they need to find their Waytoplay?
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Adults talk about their emotions and experiences. Kids play them. As the famous saying goes, “play is the work of the child, and toys are the tools”. If you have been trying to find a way to broach some harder subjects with your kids in a way that is honoring to their age and communication style...let play lead the way, even when it comes to the hard stuff. Help your child into the driver seat by using play to help them work out and express their emotions. Here are a few tips and ideas for using open-ended play as a powerful door to communication in the way that kids understand the best.
STEP ONE: COLLECT YOUR TOOLS FOR OPEN-ENDED PLAY
Categories of open-ended toys that lend themselves to exploring sensitive subjects
Real Life/ Nurturing Toys- Examples of real life toys would be things you see every day that you can use to act out different scenarios. For instance if you want to explore the changes in your child's life due to Covid, use toys that can represent things that are part of their day like school, figures of people, realistic animals, our waytoplay roads, and things that can be turned into buildings or places like blocks or magnet tiles. Nurturing toys would be items like dolls where they can use play to represent relationships etc.
Acting Out/ Aggressive Toys- Acting out and aggressive toys are things that they can use to represent scary things, fear, danger, or aggression. Don’t read too much into what toys they pick or how they play other than to give them some tools to help them express themselves and to simply help them get their feelings out through play. Toys like a crocodile, a spider, or something else that could easily be associated with something scary or aggressive are examples of acting out/agressive toys.
Creative/ Emotional Release Toys - Toys like dress up clothes and art supplies are great for creative and emotional release toys as they allow the child to become part of the story and express themselves with color, costumes, and storytelling.
STEP TWO: INVITE YOUR CHILD INTO A PLAY FOCUSED CONVERSATION
Tips for inviting your child into an open-ended play space set up for meaningful discussions
STEP THREE: REFLECT BACK WHAT YOU HEAR
Reflect back their emotions as a way to help them feel heard and help them elaborate areas they want to talk more about
A great resource for specific ways to word things while discussing hard topics with your kids is @theworkspaceforchildren on Instagram. She specializes in this area and has countless scripts to follow that you could easily incorporate into your play time together.
A big thanks to this post's guest specialist Michella Nassar, MAC.
To help you find ideas for creative invitations to play to use as conversation starters with your child, visit our Pinterest Page!
Enjoy the Journey,
Sarah
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We’ve all had that experience with our kids where they get a present and all they want to play with is the box or the wrapping paper. Their favorite toy is a kitchen utensil they found on their own and now carry endlessly around the house. We laugh about it and move on. If we look a bit closer, however, there is an important lesson in a moment like that we often miss and can learn from should we slow down and think about it.
Here’s the thing...kids don’t have preconceived notions about how they should play until we tell them by the toys we buy or activities we make a habit of doing. In essence, play habits are learned...that is of course...unless we get out of the way and let the child decide what “playing” looks like (which is much easier said than done). When we hand a child a toy that tells them exactly how they should play or create, we are teaching them that they are not expected to think for themselves. What if instead of giving them toys that say “this is how you SHOULD play”, we encourage them instead to spend lots of time outdoors which will organically lead them to discover all kinds of open doors to creativity? They can then use those ideas in play just by watching the world around them and storing their OWN ideas of how they “COULD” play. What if instead the message we send them is that their mind is truly amazing (and is made to use and challenge), their ideas are worth exploring, and their creativity, just as we see it in nature, is endless?
Why Nature?
Put simply, the more intentional time your child spends outside in nature, the more they will be drawn to and thrive in open-ended play settings. Why is that?
In nature, where things are always changing, we have to really pay attention and sit with something in order to discover it’s beauty and meaning. In nature, we have to study and think before we can understand or engage. We are invited to imagine, to enjoy, to wonder (as I have with my daughter) at a line of ants, which at first glance seem small and plain. Then we crouch down and see that they have made a track in the dirt and are carrying pieces of food larger than their bodies. We have to stay still and really look. We sit and eat our lunch and just watch the ants work hard to store up many lunches for their entire colony through teamwork and perseverance. And then...just by watching... a whole new world of awe and wonder appears and begins to emerge in play.
Slowly, as this wonder, imagination, and creativity are cultivated in the mind and heart of a child as they discover the endless creativity of seemingly simple things in nature, it becomes natural for them to engage in open-ended play because there are thousands of seeds of imaginative ideas from spending time outdoors just waiting bloom in their playtime. For my daughter who has sat with the ants, a stick is no longer a stick, but a way to make a path in the dirt along the trail just like the ants. The making of that trail to someone passing by may seem like a child playing in the dirt, but for her she was making a profound connection with nature, one where she was inspired by the hard work and perseverance she saw in the ants and was inspired to build on that in her play as she made that trail.
Beginning in nature is a great place to start cultivating the habit of listening and watching closely, but it can also be practiced in a city or town. The important part is taking the time to really study something and linger there long enough to see past what is obvious and to take joy in the creativity, beauty, and possibility all around us.
Open-ended play is a learned habit in the same way that thoughtfully observing nature is a learned habit. It is not something you turn on and off because creatively observing, listening, enjoying, and imagining the possibility all around us as source of inspiration to create is not an activity at all...it is a way of life. If your child is having a hard time with the open-ended toys you have invested in, spend lots of intentional time outside in nature, and your child will develop a wealth of ideas to draw on when they are just sitting with something that at first glance seems small and plain. There is a whole new world awaiting them too.
Enjoy the Journey, Sarah
Games / Activities in nature to help develop the tools needed for open-ended play
I spy, I hear, I smell, I taste, I feel- An extension of the original "I spy" game, children are challenged not just to see things and describe them, but to do the same with the other senses and practice slowing down enough to discover subtle things around them. Subtle sounds are particularly fun to pick out. Taste and smell can be used while eating something. Texture is great for when they are holding an object or living thing.
"I notice/ I noticed"- a more general game to take turns sharing things they become aware of by listening and watching closely to the world around them. You can set the tone by the depth and nature of the examples you give. This can also be used at the end of a day to discuss things that happened or things that were memorable.
Things- This is a game where you take a random object and think of all the ways you can use that object as different things (this can be a family game that becomes really funny but that also helps children to look at something from different perspectives). This is often done as a stand alone game, but can be done while out in nature as an "on-the-go" activity.
Sit and Look- This may seem like an obvious thing to do, but take an object (a shell, a flower, a simple toy), and just sit and look at it with your child. Observe it and notice details about it. Maybe what it reminds you of, the way it changes as you turn it etc. You may be surprised at how hard this is for your child (and you) to do at first without getting bored. Start by doing this frequently and just making a comment or two together and build up to really studying something for longer lengths.
Stories- Take an object (any object) and use it as the main element in a story you make up. This can be done anywhere using anything even if you can't hold it. This is a great activity to do when you have to wait or sit still for awhile. Examples: Use the clock on the wall in the doctor's office to come up with a silly story together. Use some acorns to stage a story in the dirt and move them around as you tell the story.
Have more ideas or activities you do with your children in nature? Share them in the comments!
Be sure to check out our "Play Pedagogy" Pinterest Board for more ideas and articles about the concepts behind the open-ended play philosophy at Waytoplay.
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We all want our kids to get lost in play. We spend precious time, effort, and money in the toys and resources we bring into our homes so that we can facilitate open-ended play that encourages imagining, creating, and playing. One of the tools we can harness in helping our kids get started is through invitations to play. If your kids are not playing with their toys, and you want to figure out why, visit our blog “Reasons your child isn’t playing with their toys (and what to do about it)" for additional tips to jump start play at your home.
What is an “invitation to play” exactly?
An invitation to play is where you set up toys and create an invitation of some sort for your child to engage and explore in new kinds of play. Invitations in general are very powerful, be it an invitation to belong, be known, or be a part of something. Many times simple invitations can be the most powerful tool in life to foster connection, growth, and meaning in the lives of those around us. Invitations to play are very similar...they show that you are thinking about and care about the person you are making an invitation for and that you are welcoming them and have made a special place for them to grow and to be themselves. What a great way to show our children that we see them, know them, and love them.
Invitations to play can be something very simple or something you put lots of thought and time into. Below are a few ideas to get you started, and before you know it, you will be getting new inspiration from your child about how you can invite them in new ways to explore the world around them:
1. Simply put on display certain toys in a beautiful way in an area they can be played with.
This is the most simple form of an invitation to play and can also be the most powerful because you are leaving all the imagining to the child. Take a toy or grouping of toys and put it in a prime location that will highlight it, making it the focus of an area. Put some puppets neatly displayed in the center of the couch, a game in the center of a clean table, or your Waytoplay roads in the middle of an open play area with cars and trucks at the ready. Make them look enticing and display them in such a way that shows them off.
Sometimes just noticing a toy apart from the rest is all that is needed to draw in our child and inspire curiosity. Think of a fancy boutique where they display only a few clothes in such a way that makes each one look unique and appealing. Bonus tip...this works for adults too!
2. Start building something...but only begin and leave the rest for your child to create
Sometimes getting started is the hardest part, and if we get the toys out, display them nicely, and put a few pieces together, we’ve helped our child get past their initial hesitation to get started. When forming new habits, one of the best tips is to make whatever you are trying to do as accessible as possible. After a few times of this kind of invitation, it is much more likely that a child will gravitate towards that toy even if it is not set up at all because they have developed confidence about how to start.
Just today I asked my daughter if she wanted to play with some blocks and she said no. I then went over without saying a word, put three or four into the shape of a little house, spread out a pile of them on the carpet next to the larger supply of blocks (smiling while I did it), and silently walked away. I looked over my shoulder and saw her glace over at it...stare for a minute...and then walk over and start building. She couldn’t help it. There was just so much possibility in that little beginning. Sometimes the power of an invitation comes when instead of getting frustrated with our child when they won’t play, we instead help them change directions by showing them by example how easy and fun getting started can be.
3. Create the gift of a small world for your child to enjoy
Gifts come in all kinds of packages, and the gift of spending time to create a magical world of play that our child could not create themselves is a gift that keeps on giving. Not only does it remind our child that we care enough to take the time to build something just for their enjoyment, it reminds us as parents that we are never too old to play ourselves, and may even bring back some much needed child-like wonder and joy into our own lives.
4. Thoughtful additions to go along with your invitation to play:
For more visual ideas that will help you get started, be sure to visit our Invitation to play Pinterest board full of imaginative ideas for your next invitation to play!
Enjoy the journey,
Sarah
]]>After a year and a half of all different kinds of challenges due to COVID 19, it's been a hard season for so many, especially when it comes to travel. For those going on a final holiday before the season changes, open-ended play is a great idea no matter if you are able to travel or plan on sticking closer to home. Waytoplay is a great companion for all types of holiday play. Below are some creative ideas to incorporate with your roads for holiday play now and in the future.
Bring your roads and other outdoor toys to a new park, playground, or nature preserve in your area. One of the neat things about deciding to stay close to home for your holiday is that you get to explore places nearby that you have never visited! There are lots of adventures to be had with a little research and creativity! Make it special by bringing a blanket and picnic for a day of play in new surroundings.
Get adventurous with food. One of the special things about holiday is that you get to eat different food than at home. Stay in the holiday spirit by eating out more or only getting take-out from places you have never been. Have favorite places you DO want to eat at? Bring your favorite food home and surprise your kids by taking out your waytoplay and building a road right on the kitchen table during dinner! Turn on some fun music and a make a themed dinner “on the road to (exotic location)”. Finish off your themed dinner with a themed movie night or family read-aloud.
Camp in the garden or living room. Want a full holiday experience right at your own house? Why not set up a tent or sleeping gear right in your own garden or living room? Make the same food you would make camping, tell stories with a flashlight, eat special camping treats, and make some memories with what you have. The key to making it special is going all in for your kids and showing them by example how to have a good time. Put away phones and electronics, turn off all the lights, and try to simulate as much as possible what it would be like to camp! If you want to go all out, incorporate some nature walks during the day, build an outdoor small world with your waytoplay roads in the garden like you would sandcastles on the beach, and make a day of close-to-home memories.
Bring your waytoplay roads on holiday in a hard, water-friendly container for land and sea adventures. Waytoplay is the perfect holiday companion because it is compact to store and loves to play in any location or weather. Just remember to dry your roads completely before storing them again and if possible store them so they remain straight.
Take your sandcastle building to a new level. Waytoplay will turn a typical sand-building playtime into an epic kingdom building masterpiece. Because waytoplay roads are great in the sand and water, they make a great addition to any beach play.
Bring Waytoplay on the town. Put Waytoplay in a bag or purse so you have open-ended toys on hand no matter where your holiday adventures take you. This way your children can stay happy while you eat and relax with friends. Make an “out and about” bag with some new or special toys to go with their roads to spark fresh ways to play.
I hope these ideas help spark some creative ways to use your Waytoplay roads on holiday, and remember that your child's very favorite memories will be anything where you are playing too, so don’t forget to get down in the sand WITH them a few times and make some memories together. Not only will giving them undivided attention encourage them to engage in independent play at times when you want to relax (because you have already filled their "attention" cup), it will speak volumes to them about your priority to include them, enjoy them, and desire to see the world through their eyes with less distraction and more connection.
Enjoy the Journey!
Sarah
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Wet track segments? From playing in bath, the pool or outside in the rain? Well done! Just make sure to dry them thoroughly before stacking!
Water play is something that is both a fun and creative way for kids to play year round. On the beach, in the bathtub, at the swimming pool, or just in the backyard soaking up the last days of warmer weather, there are endless ways to use water in open-ended play. One of the design features of the Waytoplay roads is that they love being in the water. Here are some ideas to get on your way with imaginative water play.
Bath Time Fun
One of the easiest ways for your child to get started with water play is to use their roads in the bath! Gather the roads and a few toys (cars, animals, etc.) that can get wet and let the fun begin! Let your child’s imagination run free as they build an imaginary world while you get a few minutes of extra time to relax.
Swimming Skills Practice
A creative way to use the Waytoplay roads in water is to help children practice putting their heads underwater and holding their breath. The next time you are at a pool, bring along your roads, some goggles, and a few cars, and help your child build a road UNDER the water. Depending on the age and swimming ability of your child will determine how much help they need, but playing under water is such a great way for them to simultaneously get lots of practice with swimming skills they are working on.
Take Waytoplay on Holiday
Waytoplay roads are ready to travel! Because the roads take up very little space when stored, they make a perfect travel companion and provide an easy open-ended option wherever your holiday takes you. The beach, the river, camping, a hotel pool, or just in a bath at your destination, Waytoplay roads won’t take up much room in your luggage or car, but will transform any space into a creative holiday play adventure.
Water and Windows
Are you someone who likes a creative challenge? Why not try getting your roads wet and making a vertical road on the windows? This is one of our absolute favorite ways to play with our roads, and though you may need to experiment a bit, once you get the hang of it the opportunities are endless! We have built roads on the windows for fun, practiced the alphabet, written names on the windows for birthdays, and just experimented with how big we could make our road and see how long we could get it to stay up (3 days is our record).
Waytoplay Car Wash
A fun outdoor activity in the garden with water and Waytoplay is to make a car wash! Challenge your child to come up with everyday items that they can use to build their own mini car wash, and provide some shaving cream or other fun child safe materials to help make the washing part realistic.
Get Messy
Messy play can be one of the most memorable kinds of play, but can also be overwhelming to do regularly if you don’t have a plan. If you would love to have more messy play but find the whole idea a bit daunting, visit our blog about how to take the stress out of messy play, make a plan, and make some mess and some memories with your waytoplay roads!
What will be your water-filled waytoplay? To see more ideas about how to use your Waytoplay roads in the water, visit our Water Play Pinterest Board!
Enjoy the journey,
Sarah
Open-ended play is the one of the most important gifts we can give our children, and is at the heart of the Waytoplay philosophy. If you would like to work on facilitating open-ended play in your family, here are some tips to help you get started and some resources for further encouragement and guidance.
What Is Open-Ended Play?
Open-ended play is just play that has...an open end. It’s play where the kids do the thinking and NOT the toys. Toys that have a button that gets pushed over and over are not open-ended. Toys that the CHILD decides how they will be used and there are many ways to use them is open-ended play. That’s it! It doesn’t need to be complicated, and in fact the more simple, the more scope for imagination!
Think About the Toys You Have in your Home
Chances are you already have some open-ended toys at your house, but they may not be played with if you have toys that do all the work for the kids and they just “sit and get”. Toys that are open-ended will encourage children to problem solve, imagine, and become inventors and deep thinkers in a way that toys that only entertain cannot. It’s a simple concept, but because of the consumer culture today, it takes us as parents some problem solving, imagining, and deep thinking as well in order to create an environment of authentic open-ended play. If you are having trouble with getting your kids to play with the toys you want them to play with, read these tips to help you troubleshoot why they are not playing and what to do about it.
Take Inventory and Gradually Phase Out your “Entertainment” Toys.
There are lots of things you can read about open-ended play that make the whole process sound difficult, but it doesn’t need to be. Set aside some time when you can look around your house and start slowly getting rid of toys that are not open-ended. Depending on the age of your child and how firm their attachment is to the toys you want to give away, this will take patience. I do NOT suggest removing every toy like this at once (unless you have a baby and they do not yet have these attachments) because your child also needs to change their mindset and form positive relationships with other toys before you take away the current ones. What I have done in the past is put them away in a bag for a for a period of time, and if they do not ask about them, I then get rid of them for good. There may be a season where you have some of each and that is okay. If you are moving in the right direction, don’t worry about how long the process takes.
Give Open-Ended Toys a Prominent Spot in your Home
Not only does putting open-ended toys in an important location show that you value those things as a family, it ensures that they are seen all the time, and thus get played with more often. Look around your house and find the things you use the most….is it a kitchen appliance, a television, a computer, or a bookshelf? Chances are these things are in very prominent places and you have made special effort to make them beautiful and set apart because you use them so much. Do the same with your open-ended toys and you will start to see a change. The hardest part about this whole process will be getting into a different mindset, and after that, the rest will follow.
Help Kids Form Positive Relationships with the Toys You DO Want Them to Play With
One of the best ways to kick start open-ended play is to do something really special with some of your open-ended toys to give your kids ideas and help them have a positive emotion when they see or think about the open-ended toys. The key ingredient in this is YOU. Play WITH them, and show them just how fun open-ended play can be. Think up a fun adventure with costumes, a building session where you build a whole city with blocks and roads, or a creative art project. The things we gravitate to the most as kids (and adults) are often times the things we have the most happy memories doing with people who love us. You can work backward and help your child form these positive attachments to their open-ended toys by creating special memories with them.
Follow The “I Do, We Do, You Do” Principle
Start by leading these open-ended activities yourself if your kids are not used to open-ended play and need some help brainstorming, but slowly encourage them to make more decisions to where you are playing parallel and finally where they feel confidant enough to play with or without you! Just today, my daughter kept bringing things in from outside and was coming up with food names for grass, rocks, and leaves. She needed to see my excitement and i helped her brainstorm a bit, but after gaining a bit more confidence with something new her imagination took off!
Encourage a Growth Mindset
The hardest part about open-ended play is not giving up when there is a road block, but instead looking at play as an opportunity to take exciting risks in a safe environment, where experimentation and setbacks are natural and even a positive part of the process. This can be the place where things break down (for kids AND parents) and it is the most important time to show excitement and a playful sense of adventure on your end. Instead of reacting out of frustration ourselves with an annoyed “figure it out” attitude what they need is a “Oh wow! Look at what you are doing and that’s a really interesting challenge” kind of attitude. Our kids will ultimately take their cues from us and can read between the lines if we are faking it. If we use the right words and buy open-ended toys but our kids can tell by our attitude that we would rather they just leave us alone so we can scroll on our phone... open-ended play will NOT take off. We must spend the time and effort on the front end to encourage, model, and equip them with the mental tools they need to be successful. The rewards that show themselves in their lifelong creativity, ability to persist and problem solve, focused work ethic, and their can-do attitude will keep on giving throughout their lives if we stick with it and invest in helping them start down the road to open-ended play. Need visual ideas to get started? Check our our open-ended play Pinterest Board!
Enjoy the Journey,
Sarah
Warm-up Ideas:
2. Teach in short bursts - One of the best teaching techniques that may be hard to remember is to keep teaching sessions short. It’s much better for parent and child to have a child’s full attention for ten to fifteen minutes with focused practice than thirty minutes with a distracted kid and tension trying to get a child to finish a drawn out lesson. Not only will keeping things short have more impact because you are teaching only when they are alert, fresh, and are most likely to retain information, but it will keep the child interested and wanting more next time! If you are using the Waytoplay roads, you could do a structured alphabet practice for a bit with guidance and then just let them continue to play on their own when you are done!
3. Know the correct letter sounds - Watch this video (above) to make sure you are practicing letter sounds with your child correctly. It's easy to add additional sounds to the original phoneme and accidentally practice letter sounds the wrong way. It's important practice correctly to avoid confusion later when they begin to read and sound out words.
4. Let them teach - One of the best ways for kids to really learn something is to teach it to someone else. Be that a sibling, a parent, or video call with a friend or loved one, having them teach the sound and words that begin with a certain sound can help them with long term memory of that letter and sound.
5. Have FUN! - In addition to keeping lessons short, get creative and make lessons...fun. Fun can be simple! Below are some simple ways to have fun learning with your Waytoplay roads:
Check out our Pinterest Board with lots of ways to learn with Waytoplay roads!
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Here's the deal. Homeschooling while also trying to work from home is no joke. I'm a mom who has read ALL THE THINGS (and also works from home while homeschooling), and over the next few posts, I will be sharing some of the best tips and resources across the internet to help save you time and brain cells. To start off the series, here are five big, important tips in order to lay the foundation for a somewhat structured yet peaceful homeschool life while staying at home with your kids.
More important than any one thing you do or teach, what is the deeper message you will communicate to your kids during this time you are together? Kids can remember this time as a stressful time where they felt like an inconvenience, or they can remember it as a time that their parents went out of their way to show them THEY are what’s important and that you cherish this extra time with them. We do need to get things done (especially if you need to work from home), but it’s all about HOW we include them in this journey, and the tone we set. Include them in the discussions, the planning, and the fun. You are in this together.
Pro Tip: Watch a family movie that helps all of you remember what really matters so the chaos and tension won’t take over and you can focus on the unique opportunity to love your family well and come out closer on the other side. Let each person share about how they are feeling and make a decision as a family to be patient and forgiving with each other and yourselves through this season.
Include your kids in making a schedule for your days. They have one at school so structure will help them know what to expect. Have a plan, but stay flexible.
Pro Tip: Let them help you make the schedule (ask them about their school schedule) so they feel ownership in the process and you get buy-in from everyone.
This has the potential to be one of the most helpful and FUN things you do with your family during this time. Be creative and PARTICIPATE sometimes! If you have enough space, go outside. If not, do active things inside (think dance parties, the floor is lava, family workouts etc.) Not only does this serve as a time to get all that energy out and curb the cabin fever, you can also end up with some of the stories that are told for years after “remember that time we played the floor is lava..and mom beat you?! That was awesome.”
Pro Tip: Have a few ideas up your sleeve so can start a game spontaneously and really surprise your kids.
As much as kids need time to get out extra energy, they (and you) also need time to decompress and slow down in order to regroup for the evening. If you have never done this as a family, you may need to help them know what to do during this time (reading, coloring, naps, crafts etc.)
Pro Tip: Provide something special like a favorite snack or drink during quiet time to make it seem more special and help them look forward to it.
This one may be hard to follow, but even screens get boring if you use them too much. Especially if you need to work from home, save the entertainment for when you really need help keeping your kids occupied (like a really important phone call or meeting) and it will be worth it’s weight in gold as a fill-in substitute teacher.
Pro Tip: Explore different kinds of shows or educational sites your kids don’t normally use to make screen time seem different and to keep it fresh.
Tune back in for part two: Working from Home with Kids...coming soon!
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Hello! My name is Emily Limer and I am so excited to be sharing this guest post with Waytoplay toy roads today! I am a mom of 2 and a preschool teacher in North Carolina. One of the things my kids and I love to do is build things from cardboard and other recyclables that we can use to play with our favorite open-ended toys! It's such a budget-friendly way to extend play. When I saw our new Waytoplay toy roads I felt like they would be so much fun to use with a DIY parking garage. I love the flexible nature of the roads, so we built a long ramp to roll the cars down, which my son loves. Keep reading below for a full tutorial to make your own parking garage!
Materials Needed:
-1 medium-sized, shallow cardboard box
-Extra cardboard long enough to create a ramp
-Clear packaging tape or duct tape
-4 recycled cardboard tubes
-Hot glue gun
-Scissors or a box cutter
-Paint (acrylic paint or a high-quality washable paint will work!)
Directions:
Step 1: Begin constructing the top of your parking garage. Cut an opening in the side of your cardboard box where you would like to attach your ramp. Make sure that the opening is slightly wider than one of your Waytoplay roads!
Step 2: Tape your cardboard ramp to the bottom of the box, lining it up with your opening. You can put our tape on the bottom of the box and ramp - this way you won’t be able to see it when you're finished construction! I used a long piece of cardboard for the ramp that was just a bit wider than the roads. Once you have added legs to your parking garage, you can trim the ramp if it is a little too long.
Step 3: First, make sure that your four cardboard tubes are all the same length. Use scissors to trim them as needed. Flip your box upside down. Use hot glue to attach the four cardboard tubes to the four corners on the bottom of your box. Run a bead of glue around the rim of the tube, press firmly in place on the box and hold it for a few seconds as it dries. Once all four legs are attached, flip the parking garage back over and check to see if you like the length of your ramp. Use scissors to shorten the ramp, if desired.
Step 4: Paint your parking garage! My son wanted to paint ours green. We used black paint for the legs and the ramp, too! We used washable paint on ours (so that he could help), but acrylic paint would also work. Cardboard does have a tendency to curl some when painted. To help avoid this, keep the coat of paint as thin as you can. If the ramp curls some, you can help correct this by painting one coat of paint on the other side of of the ramp!
Step 5: If you’d like, you can use extra scraps of cardboard to make some signs for your parking garage. We used chalk crayons to write on our signs and hot glued pipe cleaners around the edges to dress them up a bit. Once the signs were done, I hot glued them onto the parking garage and we were ready to play!
This guest post is by Emily Limer. You can follow her on Instagram @makingwithmommy for more craft and play ideas!
Be sure to check out the Waytoplay Pinterest board with more cardboard DIY ideas to use with your Waytoplay roads!
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