Monopoly houses, toy soldiers and Lego: the museum of plastic lost at sea | Environment | The Guardian
The waste washing up on British beaches is a shocking but fascinating catalogue of our times| the Guardian
The waste washing up on British beaches is a shocking but fascinating catalogue of our times| the Guardian
A Guide to Toddlers and Tricycles - BabySparks| BabySparks
That ball popper push toy does more for your toddler than you might think! From encouraging babies to stand and walk, to helping toddlers refine movements, push and pull toys support development in unique and surprising ways.| BabySparks
Pretend play is a mainstay of childhood — one with big, long-lasting benefits. Dressing up is a special part of this play. Whether it’s pretending to be a cowboy, doctor or chef, donning costumes and embodying a character supports development in important ways.| BabySparks
Playing with bubbles is probably a favorite pastime from your childhood, and it might be becoming one of your child’s favorites, too. Aside from adding lots of fun to a toddler’s day, bubbles have another purpose: They help your little one develop gross motor skills in several ways! From his arms and legs down to his feet, his whole body can move and play with bubbles.| BabySparks
The ball is a classic toy that can be traced back to the beginning of civilization. While some parents are always on the lookout for the latest trends in toys for babies and toddlers, they should never underestimate the amount of fun that can be had with a ball. The old phrase “we’re having a ball” had to come from somewhere! The best part is, balls provide a ton of developmental opportunities in addition to being a lot of fun.| BabySparks
When the time comes to refresh your little one’s toy box, you may want to think twice before tossing the Lego Duplos, Bristle Blocks, wooden shapes, or whatever form of building blocks you happen to have on hand. While these blocks may appear to be an ordinary toy, they’re really much more than that! Building blocks, or any form of solid shapes that are used to construct something, offer a wide variety of benefits for little ones – one of the reasons they show up in many of our BabySpar...| BabySparks
Imagine you’re playing peek-a-boo with your baby. At first, he is delighted: Every time you pull your hands away from your face his eyes widen, he laughs, and then he kicks his feet for you to do it again. Eventually he reacts less, and you realize he’s not paying attention to the game anymore. But does that mean peek-a-boo no longer supports learning?| BabySparks
Puzzles are a childhood mainstay. Like blocks, balls and dolls, they’re a toy that’s stood the test of time — for good reason! Puzzles support virtually every area of toddler development. We should note that we’re talking about the old-school variety of puzzles, not digital ones. Screen puzzles are no match for the learning that goes on when little ones are interacting with the three-dimensional world.| BabySparks
Imagine it’s summer and you’re about to get into a swimming pool with your 2 year-old, who is holding his favorite toy—a small, stuffed giraffe with a rattle inside. He turns around and sees an overturned bucket and a beach ball. He sets the giraffe on the bucket, comes back, and follows you into the pool.| BabySparks
Symbolic play (or pretend play) is a highlight of childhood. Remember when toy food and plates set the stage for an elaborate lunch served to stuffed animals? Or when picnic tables at the park were pirate ships, and long sticks from the ground were swords?| BabySparks
