A Billion Toys And Bored

Your child has what seems like billions of toys. They clutter up the family room, overflow from toy bins and have nearly taken over your house.

He’s bored.

It’s a familiar scenario among kids of all ages. Formerly beloved toys sit forlornly in a corner after a few months, weeks, or even days of use.

Your child’s lack of interest in his or her toys doesn’t necessarily mean they are spoiled. Rather, they may have used a toy enough that it’s no longer a novelty, and now they’re looking for something else to stimulate their mind.

You can take steps to ensure that your child’s creative juices don’t dwindle away along with the excitement of the toys. In addition, you can breathe new life into those very same toys.

One trick is to rotate toys. Keep a batch of older ones in the garage or attic. When your child grows tired of the toys in the house, move them into storage. Bring out the toys you had hidden away. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and toys that your child hasn’t seen in a long time suddenly have renewed appeal.

For younger children, especially toddlers, be creative. Everyday household objects can be as fun as any expensive toy. Give your toddler bits of masking tape, and watch him giggle as it sticks to his fingers. Put water in a glass and blow bubbles through a straw.

Even better, engage your child in activities. Toys are fine, but playtime, especially with mom and dad, is better. Sing songs. Have arts and crafts time using age appropriate washable paint, stickers, craft paper, glue, glitter or even pudding (hint, have your child sit in the tub for the messier activities). Read stories. Be creative. Build a pillow and blanket fort. Older children often enjoy role-playing (e.g., playing house, princess, etc).

Play games. Old standbys like hide and seek, tag, catch, and red light green light still hold appeal.

The benefits to activities, versus toys, are that you’ll spend quality time bonding with your child and stimulate their creative juices. In addition, your children will learn. Taking turns, learning numbers, and music appreciation are just a few of the valuable takeaways.

In addition, many of these activities can take place inside the home on a rainy or snowy day, helping to beat the bad weather blues.

In the end, nothing stimulates a child like an outing. Just breathing fresh air in the backyard can invigorate a child suffering from household boredom. If you can really take an excursion, such as to a park, zoo, aquarium or children’s museum, all the better.

Any change of scenery, even the local mall, is likely to rejuvenate a bored child. If it’s cold outside, bundle up and brave the cold, as long as the temperature isn’t dangerously low. Chances are your toddler is going to have a blast in the snow, and your preschooler is sure to relish a friendly snowball fight.

It doesn’t matter if you have a million dollars worth of toys or five bucks worth. With the right imagination and creativity, you’re sure to find a way to stimulate and entertain your child.

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