Inexpensive Developmental Gifts/Toys for 3 and Under
1) Old plastic peanut/mayonnaise jar, cleaned - this is an amazing toy! Here are some uses:
a) fill with shiny/noisy small things, put lid back on, and put in front of a child learning to crawl (acts as incentive as they push it away and then have to move forward to get to it again)
b) play "clothes pins in the bottle" with jumbo crayons (nice large opening for beginners, as they get better swap for an old water bottle)
c) put a piece of string or yarn around the neck of the jar, fill with shiny/noisy things, close lid, hold by ends of the string to hang above baby's feet to encourage kicking
d) use contact paper and paste pictures of familiar things around the outside of the jar to create a "roller book", sit across from each other and roll it back and forth, when you catch it respond to the picture your finger lands on (farm animals, make that animal's noise; family members, yell that person's name; etc.)
e) put your mouth up to the jar and take turns talking or reading a story into the jar (great for kids behind in communication skills)
2) Laundry basket - just the right height to use as a prop when learning to walk, pulling to stand, etc. also a great way to exercise large muscle groups (hiding under it, pushing it around the room, climbing in and out, etc.) NOTE: use for pulling to stand might require a weight inside or it will tip over. Also, parental supervision is a good idea with this one.
3) Collapsible mesh laundry basket - light enough for the child to carry around, great for putting toys in and out of, easy to stash away (collapses to 5 inch circle) NOTE: Watch for tears and wires getting lose.
4) Texture quilt - cut up old clothes of different textures (corduroy, shiny, mesh, wool, fuzzy, nubby, etc.) and sew into a quilt the baby can have tummy time on. Add short pieces of ribbon or fabric that won't fray for some extra fun. Great fine-motor practice and neural stimulation.
5) Box and metal juice lids - Decorate the box (old wipe boxes work great, cereal boxes are fine but tend to have a short life) and cut out a slot. Practice putting juice lids into the slot. Decorate the juice lids with various shapes and colors for added fun sorting and counting.
6) Foam - cut various shapes out of craft foam, punch a hole in the middle of each shape and string them together. Babies have fun exploring the shapes, older kids can organize them or pretend with them.
7) Yarn balls - wrap yarn around and around a book, take it off and tie it tightly around the middle, cut the loops - ta da! a pom pom. Fun for older kids to throw and catch (won't hurt like some balls do), fun for younger kids to explore the textures and learn hand and finger skills by pulling the little strings out. NOTE: strings are short enough that they shouldn't get wrapped around body parts and cause a problem, but be aware of the possibility if you are making large balls, also watch for strings as a choking hazard.
8) Teething doll - sew an old sock inside of a washcloth (ghost style), stitch or draw a face on to the doll, give to a child who is teething to chew on. Wet the ends a little for a different experience. Toss in the wash with other clothes after each use.
9) Blocks - save (clean) old juice boxes, milk cartons, etc. When you have two of one kind, cut the tops off and put one inside the other. Tape closed or wrap with paper like a present. Allow older child to color the block.
10) Dress-up clothes - ask for used Halloween costumes, dresses, hats, etc. from friends whose children have outgrown them.
DISCLAIMER: THESE TOYS SHOULD ONLY BE USED UNDER ADULT SUPERVISION AND ARE USE AT YOUR OWN RISK PROJECTS.
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