magnetic toys encouraging creative problem solving

Open-ended toys: These can be played without an end goal, encouraging creative problem-solving and fostering imagination.

The most important is to have fun, creative playtime sessions during the day. Children are curious, and different playsets, especially modelling compounds, can give them opportunities to explore and the freedom to express themselves. That’s why children are excited about hands-on discovery and learn new concepts with colors and shapes when imaginative play is encouraged through modelling compounds. With modelling compounds like magnetic toys or LEGO, parents can introduce engaging activities that help explore a curious young learner’s physical, social, emotional, sensory, and creative skills.

• Blocks: Foster thinking such as measurement, equality, balance, shape, and spat. The most important is to have fun, creative playtime sessions during the day. Children are curious, and different playsets, especially modelling compounds, can give them opportunities to explore and the freedom to express themselves. Encouraging imaginative play with magnetic building compounds excites kids to explore and discover through hands-on activities. Tools like magnetic toys or LEGO are perfect for parents to introduce fun ways for young learners to develop their physical, social, emotional, sensory, and creative skills. They can explore relationships, cause-and-effect, gravity, and physical properties. There are many options—wooden blocks, bristle blocks, Duplo®, and more. Magnetic and foam blocks are especially great for younger children still developing their coordination.
• Dress-up Props: As toddlers develop, dress-up and symbolic play foster creativity! A dress-up bin that leaves lots to your child’s imagination is a perfect way to enhance thinking.
• Pretend Play: As toddlers develop, their imaginary play skyrockets. Please support your child’s creative thinking with people or animal figures, vehicles, puppets, etc., allowing them to weave their storylines.
• Books: Remember that books can be toys as well! Get baby-safe sturdy board books or cloth or bath ones. From simple stories to pop-out pieces, touch-and-feel stories, and wordless tales, books can take your child to magical places. Be sure you are along for the ride!
• Puzzles: While there is usually one set solution for a puzzle, many ways exist. You can also use puzzle pieces as puppets or for storytelling. And many make sounds, foster thinking skills, or engage young learners.
• Storytelling Pieces: Think magnets of family photos, felt shapes or objects that move around felt attached to a corkboard, etc. Please talk with your child about what he is doing, or create an ad hoc silly story on the spot.

Art Materials: Always make sure these are non-toxic and baby-safe. Getting chunky ones makes them easier for younger children to hold. Washable items make cleaning up easier!

• Think crayons, markers, paints, chalk, stampers, Dot Stampers (low mess!), etc.
• Don’t forget playdough, clay, and other soft, malleable substances (e.g., cornstarch and water is a magical experience!)
• If safe and supervised, collage materials are great ways to extend thinking and make art more three-dimensional. Think yarn, lace, fabric scraps, floral foam, chenille stems, and even cardboard paint chip samples will add colour and design!
• With supervision, introduce scissors, tape, glue, and other materials by letting your child explore with no end goal in mind.
• Do finger paints, shaving cream play, or other messy art in the tub for easy clean-up.
• Are you worried your baby puts everything in her mouth? Don’t let this stifle creativity! Why not add a dab of food colouring to your baby’s yoghurt and let him “paint” his tray? Love what she did? “Capture” it by placing paper atop it and gently pressing tit o get a reverse print to dry and hang. Instant art!
• Need some mess-free options? Try these:
  • Click and drag the mouse for this fun “drawing” activity. Play here.
  • Click and click as you say the rhyme and talk about colours. Play the visually engaging game here!

Explore-Safe Environment: Babies and toddlers need space to try out new ideas. Set up a safe environment and then let your baby explore—be it with his toys or with art experiences. Encourage your baby to explore his ideas and ways of playing with you and independently.

Multi-Sensory Tools: Let creativity and learning lead the way: turn pots and spoons into drums and mallets. Empty the kitchen cabinet and create your beat with your baby. Then, dance the day away as you listen to music, sing songs, or create your tunes.

Engage Your Baby: Inspire exploration by creating enticing materials in interesting arrangements or diverse environments. Remember, at this age, it’s all a process!

Honor Their Art: As children grow, they notice their abilities pale compared to adults or older siblings. They often ask us to draw something for them so it looks like what they want it to look like. Rather than take over your child’s artistic experience, get tools that allow them to succeed with their own hands. For example, they get interesting stamps to create a “real’ dragon or stencils that will enable them to outline an airplane themselves. The more your child controls his art experience and expression, the more he will think of himself as a doer, achiever, and problem solver!

Break Convention: Encourage divergent (out-of-the-box) thinking early on by creating unique ways for your baby to explore!

• Attach a Duplo® board vertically on a wall.
• Paint with water on the sidewalk.
• Turn an oil drip pan into a large magnet board. Cut-up characters from children’s books or puzzle pieces make great magnet pieces!
• Paint the side of a cabinet with chalkboard paint.
• Sit your child in an oat box with hidden animals to discover. Get a box big enough for your child to sit in. Pour enough oats to cover the bottom. Add some scoops, funnels, etc., and allow your child to literally surround herself with oat exploration. Hide some interesting objects in the oats and see if your child can find them. You can do this with cornmeal as well.
• Upload an image of your child or his favorite story character to Fotobabble. Let him narrate a story. Or use Blabberize to have your child’s image “tell” a story and watch him delight in the animation.
• Paint with a Q-tip, a flyswatter, or a toothbrush.