Imaginative Play

The Unseen World of the Preschooler's Mind As a toddler, what your child learned and thought was often right out there in the open. In the preschool years, nearly all of this takes place, literally, all in his head. Your child will think, create...

Playing with Your Toddler: Rules of the Game During your child's second year, you will remain his favorite plaything. He will enjoy jumping on you, climbing all over you, and having you toss him up in the air (please catch him, too). He will lov...

Looking for some easy imagination playtime activities for your busybody toddler or preschooler? Just check your cabinets, toy box, or recycling bin for some new "toys" and supplies for playtime. All of these activities use basic household items t...

Print out a crystal ball and draw your own vision of the future. ...

Wise Animals Required: Your time only Have you ever looked at a cat and just known that it was thinking: "A meow in time saves nine?" Ask your child about the words of wisdom that would roll off the tongues of your pets (or animals in your neigh...

When I Grow Up Required: Your time only What if your child could gaze into a crystal ball and tell you what other children in the family, the neighborhood, or at school are going to be doing in 15 years? True, a crystal ball is hard to come by t...

  We are always looking for cheap ways to play, and a bag of craft sticks definitely fits that inexpensive bill. Craft sticks are popsicle sticks that come in several different sizes and colors, and don't require sticky mess clean-up before us...

When it comes to screen time and kids, it isn't all bad news. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers guidelines on how to make screen time healthy and educational.

Toy Tales Required: Your time only Do you know what your child's toys are up to when you're not around? There's one way to find out… ask your child to divulge their secret lives! Ask your child to tell you what a favorite stuffed animal, for e...

Spinners Required: Paper plate, thin cardboard, brad, scissors, markers Some things are best left to fate… and other things are best left to fortune-tellers. Here's an easy way for your child to make a fortune-telling device that's guaranteed ...

Perfectly Silly Required: Your time only If every day were perfect, what could possibly go wrong? Challenge your child to figure it out! Ask your child to describe a perfect day. Maybe the sun would shine from early morning until bedtime, every ...

Print out a crystal ball and draw your own vision of the future. ...

Presidential Mixer Party Game Required: Reference materials Costumes for guests Have you met anyone interesting at a party recently? Well, this is your chance to mix with some of the most prestigious party guests of all—U.S. presidents, past a...

Pop Goes the Quiz Required: Pen and paper Does your child aspire to be a teacher? If so, he or she will undoubtedly enjoy practicing one of the most important skills of the trade—administering pop quizzes! First, your child reviews a topic he ...

Mouse-Eye View Required: Your time only Yikes! You've been transformed into a mouse. But that's okay. Now you can see the world from a mouse-eye view. Tell your child to imagine what life would be like as a mouse. Then, in character as a mouse, ...

Purchased games and toys have little relevance to healthy child development. Play, however, figures prominently in healthy child development. ...

Are you worried about your kids being online? Fact Monster is a KidSafe-certified site for your kids to get homework help, play games and watch educational videos. Check it out...and give Same Game a try yourself!

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Marvelous Menus Required:> Drawing supplies Food pyramid diagram We have some good news—your child has just been hired as a chef at a world-famous restaurant. Now the bad news—the patrons are tired of the outdated menu and are demanding that...