Top 5 Toys Every Playroom Needs
If you are about to embark on your motherhood journey, you may already be thinking about what type of toys your kids will play with. There are so many toys and categories of toys to consider.
As a registered play therapist and mom of 3, there are certain toys that will benefit the emotional, social and physical growth of your children.
Here are my favorite 5 Toys/Categories that your playroom should have:
#1 Walkie Talkies are a wonderful toy with SO many uses. In my playroom, the metaphor of using walkie talkies is all about communication. The child is using their voice to communicate something or they are listening. A pretend toy phone would be a great option too. My favorite phone option is to get an old flip phone. Kids love the tactile buttons and have just as much fun without any batteries!
#2 Kid Doctor Kit! This type of toy promotes a lot of imagination as well as metaphors. What do doctors do for others? Help people! Kids can practice empathy and demonstrate helping when they play with this toy.
#3 Sensory Toys offer huge growth for kids in many ways. If you get a big bundle, I'd recommend breaking them and putting them in different environments. Have some in the car, have them in your kid's room, have them in another space in the house, send one in their backpack. Having fidget sensory toys are great way to help kids regulate their body and emotions. And they are helpful for grownups too 😉
#4 Baby dolls are important for both boys and girls. This should not be a “gendered toy”. When kids use babies in play therapy, often it's them reenacting their own experiences as a baby. Kids may not have explicit memories of being that little, but our bodies hold implicit memories. Our bodies remember!
#5 Pretend food or kitchen play is typically a metaphor for nurture. Kids also want to imitate what they see caregivers doing. It's a great way to have them use their imagination.
There are many more great categories that can help your child grow and learn, but these will be a great start to your playroom. Recent research shows that unstructured play is so important for a child’s growth.
It’s not too late to get your child playing and using their imagination. If you are unsure of how to engage with your child in imaginative play, or are desiring more support on your parenting journey, coaching may be a great fit for you. Schedule your free 15 minute discovery call today and get started on improving your relationship with your child through the world of play.
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