Learning to Read

About a month ago, my daughter began reading. I searched and searched the internet for early reading books for her. I consulted my teacher friends, none of which knew of any good commercially available early reader books. As a former elementary school teacher, I knew that early reading experiences were important to buid the child's confidence and enthusiasm for reading. Shopping on Amazon.com, I discovered Bob Books. Bob Books were created by a kindergarten teacher. These books build upon skills, slowly introducing and reinforcing them with each story. Phonics instruction is interspersed with a few sight words. There are five different sets of Bob Books. My daughter loves these little books that actually do tell a story. So often early reader books focus on one skill without actually telling an understandable story. In addition, my two-year-old son also enjoys the books. He pretends to read each one and loves placing them back in the box. Each set comes with a teaching guide, and each book comes with some suggestions on the back for engaging your child in the plot. The books are printed in China and do not appear to consist of recycled paper. After your child outgrows the Bob Books, they could be donated to a local school for home check out.

Mini Silk Parachute

Available through Magic Cabin, the Mini Silk Parachute is a relatively inexpensive, simple toy. At a cost of $11.95, this is one natural toy that is affordable. Initially, I thought the toy needed to be dropped from a tall place (perfect for our loft balcony); however, through play we have discovered the parchute can be tossed into the air. Running on endless kid power, the silk parachute is a favorite in my household. Being made of silk and gauze, the parachute is somewhat delicate. The seam between the silk and the gauze began to tear after only five days of indoor fun in our home. Despite the tear, the parachute operates perfectly, and the repair is easy enough to fix.

A Maze and Marbles

A Maze and Marbles is an amazing toy made of ecologically harvested hardwood grown on plantations. This toy fascinates young and old alike. Available for about $60.00, A Maze and Marbles comes with 100 pieces to build fantastic creations. If you decided to purchase this toy, you will need a basket to keep all the parts in. The cardboard box it comes in will not be sturdy enough for storage. I suggest toys be stored in baskets, rather than plastic bins, to minimize the amount of plastics in the home. At first, I thought the pieces were too complicated for my adult brain to assemble. By looking at the picture on the box, I was able to start a tower that my daughter finished. After one demonstration, my five-year-old daughter is able to build towers higher than her two-year-old brother, who loves to drop the marbles on the top and watch gravity at work. The possiblities are endless with this toy! For example, build a Thomas Train track through the maze and expand the play.

Unicorn

The Melissa and Doug Giant Plush Unicorn fulfills the dreams of any child enchanted with the magical world. My five-year-old daughter opened this gift from her grandmother on the morning of Christmas Eve. The entire day was spent in the world of imagination, in which the unicorn protected her from the darkness in the world. I was amazed at the complexity and length of her dramatic play. Perhaps the play was aided by our reading of Harry Potter and the Sorceror's stone, in which a unicorn is slain for its life sustaining blood. Or perhaps the play sprung from deep in her imagination, as butterflies swarmed about. Combined with a set of silk play scarves, costumes emerged. As far as the ecofriendliness of the toy, it is made of synthetic fibers; however, it comes from a repudiatable company. The unicorn costs between $90.00-$120.00 and stands over three feet tall. This toy will not be readily discarded and well worth the investment. The only drawbacks to the giant plush unicorn, besides the cost, is it is rather unstable/top heavy and the small head appears somewhat out of proportion with the rest of the body . The unicorn does fall over easily, but the legs can be adjusted to help increase its stability.

Holidays Behind Us

IF you are like me, finding meaningful gifts in the swarm of plastic, battery-operated toys of modern life is challenging. As a graduate student in early childhood education, I value the importance of imaginative play. However, many of the toys on the market today are limiting and provide a disservice to our youth. The purpose of this blog is to share my familiy's experiences with finding quality, ecofriendly toys and communicating these desires to my children and our extended family. With the holiday season behind us, I will review toys of past and present in terms of their play value and impact on the Earth.