Embrace the Matchbox Cars! Some Sorting Thoughts.

Does this look familiar?

What about this?

If you have boys, or a girl who simply loves all things cars, then you have probably stepped on a Matchbox in the dark of night and vacuumed up a Hot Wheels hubcap or two.


I have learned to embrace these toy car messes for two reasons: 

1. They are not dirty.  As opposed to spilled Ritz crackers crunched into the carpet or the jelly from a pop-tart mashed into the couch cushions, a car mess may look crazy,  but when it comes down to it I can clean it up in about 60 seconds.
2. Cars are great for imaginary play, my boys and my little girl have spent HOURS playing with cars throughout the years.  Cars are great for pretend play, and they teach sharing (just in case you don't have 2 or 3 of every single car you own!)

I have also discovered that a tote full of cars can be a quick tool for some basic review for your little ones. Yes, that huge pile of cars that you constantly box up to take to Goodwill can be put to educational use!

I may not have time every morning to sit down and review a book on colors, among other things, with my little guy.  And although it is important to have that lap time with him on a daily basis (and we attempt it!) he honestly seems to learn better with "hands on" training.
One way we have turned car time into a fun, educational moment is by car sorting.  My 4 year old also enjoys this game and is a big helper! She is thrilled because we often create a rainbow with the different colors.  Who doesn't love rainbows?

Next we piled all the cars back up and sorted them by style (ex. Diggers, Trucks, Racing Cars, Convertibles, etc.)

With a little imagination, I'm sure you can come up with a million ways to teach your kids to sort and organize cars.  This has also been a great way to teach counting.  My little guy does not always enjoy working in a counting board book or with flashcards, but he loves counting and moving his cars from one spot to the next.

Soon there will be a day when the little cars under our feet are boxed up in the attic, waiting for the day when a small grubby hand, sticky with the jelly of some futuristic pop-tart, will run them across the carpet again.  Make the most of these messes on the floor, and don't be afraid to occasionally turn play into something educational!

You Say Potato, I Say Mr. Potato Head.

The toy pick of the week around here goes to Mr. Potato head. He isn't new or fancy, but sometimes the best toys are the ones that wait in the toy box for a month (or year) until that special time when a little one discovers the toy for him or herself. Let's face it, we can't force our kids to immediately love every new toy we throw in front of them.  


My little guy was digging through the toys this week and was suddenly in love with Mr. Potato head. He is a fan of Toy Story, so it makes sense that he would love this nostalgic toy that has already withstood the test of time.  My big kids--ages 4 and 5, also love changing things around on Mr. Potato head.  If you want to read all about the history of this great toy, check this out.  


The great thing about Mr. Potato head is that he can play along as a main character in any Toy Story your kids may create on their own, but he can also be used as a refresher course to identify face and body parts since they are fun, and removable. 


My little guy loved pointing out the hat, shoes, arms, eyes, mouth, teeth, etc.  I also try to double up on learning moments when they arise during playtime by also throwing in some color training (ex. blue shoes, green hat, pink ears.)  Some kids aren't willing to sit and go through 50 flashcards or board books when they have so much toddler energy, but they think it is fun to learn when they are playing with a toy. Mr. Potato head is also another great small-motor skill developer for those little ones, and also the big guys!  Many other toys out there have these same learning capabilities, but for us this week, the award goes to Mr. Potato head!

Know How to Play.

Sometimes, when we are having a busy week or an especially busy day, I feel overwhelmed with the need to fit in some special time with my little ones.

But I am tired of picking dried play-doh from the carpet, I have banned glitter for at least 2 years, and the Easy-Bake oven will not be re-appearing again until Grandma visits. Yes, you heard me right, Grandma.  

So, is there ever an alternative to an organized craft project or reading every story book in my library when we really just need a few minutes of special bonding time?

For us, floor time is the answer.  When it has been a day of scurrying around with my 1 year old and 3 year old under my feet, chasing two steps behind me as I cook and clean, I eventually take a few minutes to stop. I simply sit or lie on the floor.  I am instantly transformed into a jungle gym, a racing horse, a hugging bear, or another 1-3 year old who is low enough to really listen.  

Is it always fun to bend our creaky knees and our aching back to sit on the carpet or hard floor—the floor that is usually scattered with leftover Ritz cracker crumbs and tiny Lego pieces? At first, no. But my kids love it when we play together on the floor, even if we are just talking and tumbling around, and I'm sure yours will, too. The positive results (smiles, laughs, talks) are immediate.

Albert Einstein said, “Play is the highest form of research.” So, let's all devote a few more moments to research (via playfulness) with our kids on the floor this week!