December 2019

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Batteries Not Needed
        
We’ve all seen it happen.  A child unwraps a gift and becomes more interested in the box than the toy!  A big box can be a boat, a car, a gingerbread house, a cave, or whatever a child imagines.  It is not only typical but also important for preschoolers to play make-believe. 
Here are a couple of short articles about the importance of pretend play for 3-5 year-old children and choosing educational toys:
          
Some of the best gifts for children are imagination-powered rather than battery-powered.
Listed below are a few toys that encourage pretend play and creativity and are loved by preschoolers:

  • Animal figure sets
  • Art supplies (blank paper, paint, markers, etc,)
  • Balls
  • Dolls
  • Dress-up clothes/costumes
  • Lego DUPLO blocks
  • Magna-Tiles or Magformers (magnetic building blocks)
  • Magnetic/toy letters, numbers, and shapes
  • Play-dough
  • Puppets
  • Puzzles
  • Rainbow stacker building toys
  • Tricycles/riding toys
  • Wooden blocks
From all of us at Don Earl Early Childhood Center, have a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year!

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