I have a 9 month old baby boy at home with tons of toys. However, I realized that, no matter how many toys we have, I get bored seeing them after a while. So I asked myself if I should buy him new toys.
The answer is NO! There are several reasons.
First, I am the one who is bored, not my son.
Second, babies get more out of playing with people than with toys. Toys don't speak to them like caregivers do. And it is more fun for babies to play with toys while interacting with their parents than while playing alone. The most expensive toy is worth less than quality time spent together.
Third, babies are curious about everything. Everything is interesting and fascinating to them. The word "toy" was invented by adults, not babies. To babies, a paper towel tube is a toy; measuring cups are toys; parents' socks are toys! Any ordinary household object is interesting for babies.
I collected empty tissue boxes over a few months. I stacked them up and then knocked them over in front of my baby. He loved it and burst out laughing. I stacked them up again and then let him try to knock them down himself. Doing this made him laugh with joy!
You can collect your own tissue boxes and ask your friends to keep theirs. Older kids can build with them and, with younger ones, you can hide objects inside. I'm sure you can find many other ways of playing with them as well!
Have fun and remember that DIY toys not only save money but also challenge your creativity. Think like a child and play with the ordinary things you have at home.
The answer is NO! There are several reasons.
First, I am the one who is bored, not my son.
Second, babies get more out of playing with people than with toys. Toys don't speak to them like caregivers do. And it is more fun for babies to play with toys while interacting with their parents than while playing alone. The most expensive toy is worth less than quality time spent together.
Third, babies are curious about everything. Everything is interesting and fascinating to them. The word "toy" was invented by adults, not babies. To babies, a paper towel tube is a toy; measuring cups are toys; parents' socks are toys! Any ordinary household object is interesting for babies.
I collected empty tissue boxes over a few months. I stacked them up and then knocked them over in front of my baby. He loved it and burst out laughing. I stacked them up again and then let him try to knock them down himself. Doing this made him laugh with joy!
You can collect your own tissue boxes and ask your friends to keep theirs. Older kids can build with them and, with younger ones, you can hide objects inside. I'm sure you can find many other ways of playing with them as well!
Have fun and remember that DIY toys not only save money but also challenge your creativity. Think like a child and play with the ordinary things you have at home.