STLMoms Parents As Teachers Tip: Homemade Toys Offer Budget-Friendly Holiday Options

Homemade toys offer budget-friendly holiday options Many budgets are stretched thin this holiday season, but you can make fun toys from materials you already have at home. According to the National Center for Parents as Teachers, the following toys and play activities promote development in young children and encourage non-violent play and parent/child interaction. They also stimulate creativity and are safe and age-appropriate.

GAME: CHIPS IN A CAN Age: 1-year-olds Benefits: Improves small muscle skills; promotes problem solving and ability to follow directions; builds vocabulary

How to: * Give the child a container filled with chips and a can with a slot cut in the lid. * Show the child how the chips fit in the slot when the slot is parallel to the ground, like a dash (--). Let the child put the chips through the slot. * When all the chips are in the can, empty them out and turn the can so the slot is now perpendicular to the ground, like the letter "l." Let the child put the chips through the slot this direction.


GAME: BOWLING Age: 3- to-4 year-olds Benefits: Develops eye-hand coordination; allows children to use logic to make predictions

How to: * Set up six pins (use 2-liter soda bottles, paper towel rolls, potato chip containers or lightweight plastic cups) on flat surface. As the child's skill increases, set up more pins -- up to 12. * Take turns bowling using different balls that range in size and weight, such as a ping-pong ball, wiffle ball or tennis ball. See which ball knocks down the most pins.

For more parenting tips like these, visit www.ParentsAsTeachers.org.