Affordable Toys That Your Kids Must Have

If you want your children to play with toys that inspire creativity and imagination, check out these great new toys I have found!

Cardboard Box(by Unlimited Possibilities) 3 months +

Available in 'tan' and 'white'. Other colors rare, but can be painted or decorated.

Stage One
During infancy, your baby will love guessing the noise if you hide something inside and shake it like a rattle. (Contents to hide inside sold seperately.)
*Infants also love it if you hide them inside.

Stage Two
This toy becomes a doorway blocker for crawling babies.

Stage Three
The Cardboard Box doubles as support for children who are beginning to stand on their own (with support).

Additional Feautures
The Cardboard Box includes a desk for drawing or coloring, a stage for a stuffed animal show, and has the ability to store other toys inside.

Blanket (by Comfy Company) birth +

Available in many colors, textures, and sizes

Stage One
Helps relax baby and soothe them to sleep. (Directions to swaddle a baby. Lie baby on Blanket. Wrap left corner of Blanket around and tuck it under baby's right arm. Fold bottom of Blanket up, and then wrap right corner of Blanket around so baby is snuggled tightly and comfortable.)

Stage Two
Drop Blanket over babies face when they have devoloped movement skills. (Usually around 3 months.) Do not leave it too long, and if they fuss they are not ready to move the Blanket themselves yet. Moving the Blanket from their face on their own gives babies bursting feelings of confidence and self achievement. (adult supervision required)
*Also comes in handy for lengthy games of 'Peek A Boo'

Stage Three
When used with one or more Cardboard Box, Blanket becomes a fort.

Additional Features
Blanket can become a beautiful princess gown or wedding veil for girls, and a superhero cape for boys.

Mirror (by Reflections Inc.) 3 months +

(Available in silver)

Stage One
Allow your baby to gaze at a reflection of him/herself. Be sure your reflection is next to their own at first, and make silly faces. This encourages amused laughter, wonder, and amazement as well as curiosity.

Stage Two
Baby will be able to admire their own reflection in Mirror. This entertains them long enough for quite some time.

Stage Three
Encourage baby to tell a story about what they see in the Mirror.

Additional Features
Use Mirror for children to look at themselves and encourage them everyday to tell you and the mirror what they like about themselves. Very important for esteem and confidence development.

Sock (By Imagination) 3 months +

(Available in many colors, textures, and sizes)

Stage One
The Sock offers an easy to grasp, lightweight construction for baby to hold on to, move around, and play with.

Stage Two
Insert your hand into the Sock and it becomes a puppet.

Stage Three
When rolled into a ball, the Sock can develop eye and hand coordination by using it in a game of 'catch and toss'.

Additional Features
Similar to the Cardboard Box, children will have fun 'guessing what's inside'. Allow them to feel the object, but not see. (*You can not hide your child in the Sock)

Balloon (ABCD) 3 months +

(available in many colors)

*Activities with Bouncy Colorful Designs includes this Warning: Balloonmust be inflated to enjoy many of it's abilities. A damaged Balloon could be hazardous to your child, including but not limited to: choking possibilities (children don't know that Balloons aren't edible); shock, dissapointment and surprise if a Balloon pops resulting in a sudden fit of angry crying; and loss of interest. ADULT SUPERVISION REQUIRED!

Stage One
Bounce the Balloon off your baby. This entertains them. Although it may confuse their learning about gravity, that is okay.

Stage Two
Draw a silly face on the Balloon and hold it over your face. Make silly voices and talk to your baby. It is unlikely that this develops anything other than amused laughter.

Stage Three
Bounce the Balloon back and forth with your baby. This encourages hand and eye coordination and can be practiced before they are ready to play catch with a Sock.

Additional Feautures
Balloon can be just as entertaining for the parents. A large amount of Balloons come free with the purchase of a small Helium Tank wich can prove very entertaining. (Use Helium Tank in moderation. Balloons inflated with the Helium Tank may further confuse the babies lessons on gravity, so it is advisable not to waste any of the Helium in the Balloons, and to self inflate the Balloons.)

I certainly hope my findings have been helpful to you!