Play Time – the necessity of ‘toys’

Have you heard people say that in the old days, when kids didn’t have many toys, they played more creatively? I was sceptical about my kids’ ability, imagining the annoying moan, “I’m bored Mum, what can I do?'”. One of the things I wanted to prioritise bringing with us was some toys for the kids. Duplo and books in particular, which are educational and span across age groups. They have turned out to be wonderful to have with us, but with limited variety (our supply includes a handful of different toys) I have been excited to watch William’s creative play blossom. He is very good at it! He never says ‘I’m bored’ and I’m pretty sure he never thinks it. He just instigates the next game. Pegs get built into animals, paper gets cut into tiny pieces or coiled snakes, or gets covered with drawing, the grass gets cut with scissors, a kitchen gets built with containers and imaginary food gets cooked, cubby houses built, and water painted with feet or sticks outside. He makes up songs and is even trying to write! Very cute, tiny, detailed ‘writing’ (he’s copying the fine motor motion we use). He doesn’t seem to need me to nudge him, he’s just interested in doing something and jumps into it. The worst I come across is his moaning if I’m not fast enough in supplying him with something he’s asked for from the cupboard. I am amazed.

Hannah, meanwhile, is still interested in exploring things with her mouth. Which can be at odds with what Will is doing but he usually wants her involved (except when she is ‘helping’ him build with blocks, which is truly unhelpful), and it’s generally me that gets frustrated (because texta nibs have been bitten off etc). On the whole they enjoy each others company and she happily follows him around, playing along side / together, even enjoying some of his rough play – until it gets too rough. I hope they are always good friends. Being twenty months apart seems to work well at the moment. And hopefully she will follow Will’s approach to instigating creative play!

I’m thankful for this forced opportunity to discover that less is more.