i try to see purpose in all we do together
all play is purposeful play and essential for proper development
we have tried some Montessori activities some of which she liked
but now i try to mostly involve her in real life activities instead of trying to "create" a learning environment
it's easier for me, cheaper and it can really be a help
if i need to clean the bathroom i give her a small bucket of water and soap and let her try to clean the shower
we shop together and she helps pick out fruits and veggies looking for the best ones with no spots
we garden together she waters and weeds
when i'm cooking i'll have her wipe off the table and chairs
and she can help sweep the floor after dinner
we try to have toys that allow for as much creative play as possible
all different kinds of art supplies that she can easily access and use whenever she wants
musical instruments
puppets, trains, dress up and cooking toys things that encourage make believe
with toys i think less is more and we invest in a few great items that will last years
rather then a lot of cheap things that will brake and clutter
i look in thrift stores, outlets and swap online for good kids books
i also make a lot of her things(like felt food for her kitchen)
we avoid plastic, disney and videos as much as possible
and try to give her a lot of unstructured time to explore
anyway this is what works for us
here are some thoughts on the importance of play
Play helps children learn about the world in which they live. They can investigate and discover, test their theories, spatial relationships, explore cause and effect, societal roles and family values. Such is the importance of play, that there's virtually no area of life about which it can't teach a child something.
Play builds self-esteem. Children will often play at something they know they can do well, at which they can be successful.
Play builds social skills. Children will begin playing with inanimate and non-threatening objects, like cuddly toys, bricks etc, so practising their interactive skills. Later, playing with other children will build on this foundation as they learn to share, take turns, assert themselves and begin to empathise with others.
Play with parents shouldn't be underestimated either, as research shows that children whose parents play with them ultimately develop superior social skills.
Play also provides the opportunity for children to work out their feelings. The importance of dealing with difficult or unpleasant emotions is immense. A child who's worried about going to the dentist, for example, may deal with the anxiety by setting up a clinic for dolls with toothache.
Play helps with language development. Think of the vast number of words a toddler uses during play, many of them repeatedly, enhancing their language skills.
Play allows children to grow beyond their years. They can pretend to be all sorts of things in play - a doctor, a surgeon, a civil engineer even!! (Think of those bricks)
Finally, don't forget to consider the importance of stimulating your child's creativity and imagination - making a castle in the sand, or a car garage out of a shoe box, taking an order in their own (imaginary) restaurant or dressing up as a king or queen - these all allow children to stretch the limits of their world and experience the fun in make-believe.
Emphasizing the benefits of "true toys", such as blocks and dolls, in which children use their imagination fully over passive toys that require limited imagination.
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