Six Fun Toys You Can Make at Home

Image Gallery This tracking tool uses a poker chip and a tongue depressor. Tracking tools are perfect for newborns because they teach babies to use both eyes simultaneously. TOPEKA SCHOOLS PAT PROGRAM

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Many of us have witnessed the magical moment when a 1-year-old gets that very first “big” toy — and promptly throws it aside to play with the box it came in.

Parents, relatives and friends can spend a good deal of money on flashy and high-tech toys, but the truth is, that’s pretty unnecessary. Kids are fairly easily entertained, and many fun — and educational — toys can be made at home with recycled materials.

Babies learn more during the first three years of their life than at any other time. At specific times in a child’s development, the brain focuses on developing certain behaviors — such as motor and language skills. Neurologists refer to these times as “windows of opportunity.” With proper stimulation during these windows, babies can learn different behaviors quicker and more efficiently, which will help them succeed throughout their lives.

Because children like to play and explore, toys are a perfect way to stimulate the brain at specific times of development. And these toys don’t have to come from toy tycoons or department stores — you can make them right at home.

The toys listed below were created by Topeka Public Schools Parents As Teachers (PAT) program as part of an interactive and developmental learning program. PAT started in the 1970s as a way to integrate parents and family into early childhood education as a way to improve entrance-level abilities among kindergarteners. PAT works with parents and children from the time the baby is in the womb to when the child is 5 years old; specific programs vary among school districts.

Each toy is specific to a particular age and has scientific rationale behind the various activities it encourages. Most of these toys involve interaction between the parent and the child, to develop the critical relationship between children and their parents.

1 1/2 to 3 months

The first three month’s of your child’s life involve critical brain development in visual recognition. Tracking tools help children this age learn to use both eyes to follow movement, which will help them become better readers, among other things.

Tracking Toy

• Paper — construction paper works best, but really any would suffice.
  Note: at this age, babies are more receptive to high-contrast colors, so red, black and white construction paper is suggested.
• Trace pattern — cookie cutter outlines work fine
• Tongue depressor or Popsicle stick

1. Trace and cut pattern out of paper.
2. Tape the cutout onto the stick.
   Note: The toy will last longer if the pattern is laminated, but that’s optional.

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