So you had a baby. Now what?

How do you play with them when their attention span is so short?

What do you need to do to help their brain develop?

What toys should you buy?

What if you do it wrong? 

We get it. You’ve dreamt of this moment and now you’re not quite sure what to do. It’s overwhelming and it seems like there is so much information coming from every direction.

The good news is that we’ve been exactly where you are now. And we can help you move forward.

The Power of Everyday Objects for Child Development

Children learn through play and it all begins at home. Household items, often overlooked in their potential as toys, hold a wealth of possibilities for open-ended play. Imagine the curiosity and wonder that a child can experience as they explore the textures of a Tupperware container, the stacking possibilities of cereal boxes, or the rhythmic sounds produced by banging on pots and pans with wooden spoons.

Open-ended play is characterized by its lack of predetermined outcomes, allowing children to explore using their imaginations and creativity through everyday objects. 

In fact, a 2021 study found that children were more likely to engage in open-ended play with everyday objects found in their home environment than new unknown toys provided to them. This means that they want to open and close closet doors, empty drawers, or push chairs around the room. And that’s a good thing!

Open-ended play offers a multitude of benefits for baby and toddler development, fostering their cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Here are some key advantages:

• Cognitive development: Open-ended play encourages problem-solving, creativity, and decision-making skills as children experiment with different ways to interact with objects.
• Fine motor skills: Manipulating objects like buttons, lids, and tongs helps develop coordination and fine motor skills, laying the foundation for later writing and other skills.
• Sensory exploration: Children's senses are stimulated as they explore the textures, shapes, and sounds of everyday objects, enhancing their understanding of the world around them.
• Social and emotional development: Open-ended play promotes collaboration, sharing, and communication skills, as children interact with their caregivers and peers.

As soon as a child is mobile, we often hear adults saying that they’re “getting into everything,” as if that were bad. Next time your child makes a ruckus by rampaging through a kitchen cabinet, recognize it as an important part of their development. Free play for children means they’re exploring the world around them, working on skills that will be useful for the rest of their lives, and they’re having fun doing it.

Eco-Friendly, Minimalist, and Cost-Effective: How to Use Household Objects for Open-Ended Play

Having household objects as toys for children on hand is not only beneficial for child development but also promotes eco-friendly practices, reducing the need for excessive toys. It embraces a minimalist approach, encouraging parents to appreciate the simple joys of everyday items. Additionally, it's a cost-effective way to enrich your child's play experience.

1. Tupperware: Tupperware containers and lids provide endless possibilities. Children can stack them, fill them with different materials, or use them as vehicles or houses in imaginative play scenarios.
2. Paper towel rolls: These versatile rolls can be transformed into pretend telescopes, drums, binoculars, or kazoos. 
3. Pillows and cushions: Create forts, obstacle courses, or cozy reading nooks, sparking imaginative play scenarios with older children.
4. Pans and wooden spoons: Make percussive music with spoons as their drumsticks and pans as their instruments, engaging children's rhythm and coordination.
5. Natural items: Gather organic materials, like leaves, pasta, vegetables, sticks, pebbles, and flowers to provide sensory exploration and inspire imaginative play. Your child can use these items to practice counting, sorting, decorating, stamping, and more.

How Parent-Baby Play Works

Happy Little People Co. activity cards provide a fun and engaging way to introduce open-ended play with household objects. Each card features a simple activity suggestion using everyday items, encouraging parents to actively engage with their children and foster a shared sense of curiosity and creativity.

For example, the Echo activity from the 12-month deck encourages language play and uses simple objects found in most households, like a cardboard tube, an empty can, and a plastic bucket.

Embrace the power of household objects for your baby to play with. By incorporating open-ended play that is natural and easy to adapt to your established daily routines, you'll nurture their creativity, imagination, and cognitive development, all while creating lasting memories and strengthening the bond between parent and child.

Discover our collection of activity cards designed to inspire open-ended play with household objects you already have on hand. Visit our website today and embark on a journey of creativity and imagination with your little one.