Something as simple as a cardboard box can offer hours of enriching play.
It’s important for children to have enriching, valuable, inclusive play, but it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg! Here are a few inclusive and accessible playtime development activities that you can easily put together without having to pull out the credit card.
Social Development: Box Town
It never fails: you buy an expensive toy, and your kids are more interested in playing with the box it came in! Why not create an entire box town for your children to explore and socialize? All it takes is five to ten large boxes, which can easily be procured from your local grocery store, and enough space to put them. Kids can work together to decorate the boxes, arrange them, and play in them.
Cognitive Development: Mix and Match Crafts
Do you have a place where your kids can be messy and creative? Create a designated craft area and supply it with construction paper, cotton pom poms, paper towel rolls, stickers, crayons, and any other craft materials you can get your hands on! This is also a great place to keep your child’s sensory table.
Emotional Development: Plant and Play
No need to buy plastic seed trays and a wealth of gardening equipment! All your child needs to grow their own plants are some seeds (which come in packets that usually only cost around $1), some soil from your backyard, and some cardboard egg cartons. All your child needs to do is fill each indentation in the egg cartons with loose soil, plant a seed in each one, place in a sunny spot, and water regularly. When the seedlings get big enough, they can be replanted into larger pots (get creative with recycled plastic containers and other household items). Taking care of a plant helps kids learn about the life cycles of plants, develop empathy for other living creatures, and can be a great sensory experience.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center serves families of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs. We are a team of experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral sciences. As a team, we offer intensive hands-on therapy for children and adolescents, as well as informative and useful resources for families. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your family, visit us online or give us a call at (202) 561-1110 (Washington, D.C. office) or (301) 577-4333 (Lanham office). Want to get more information on how to help your child thrive? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest.