Q. Good day, Ms. Dawn!

Sincerely,
Annaliza Balingit-Martin

Fortunately, Annaliza, no parent ever needs to feel like they’re denying their babies of brain-boosting toys nowadays, especially since we can get a lot of ideas in the Web. All we need is a few simple tools, our undivided attention, and a lot of creativity. I’ve picked up a few suggestions from Parenting.com, they gave this three-ingredient games for babies and even older children. Just bring out the resourceful scouts between you and your husband and I’m sure you’ll both find it quite fun and engaging doing this for your baby. I know we did.

Do-it-Yourself Toys

Tennis ball + Spool of string  +   Door knob =Swat Team

Make a slit in a tennis ball with a sharp knife. Tie a knot at one end of a piece of string, then insert that end into the ball. Tie the other end to a doorknob. Put your baby in front of the dangling ball, and let her whack it.

The Lesson: Cause and effect. When the ball bounces away, your baby gets the thrill of making something happen. Taking aim will also improve her developing hand-eye coordination and depth perception.

Throw pillows + Couch cushions +Blankets = Pint-Size Obstacle Course

Stack pillows to make mini mountains, create a tunnel out of blankets and couch cushions, then urge your crawler to scramble over and under to get to you on the other side of the room.

The Lesson: Persistence. With enough motivation – a hug from you at the end of the finish line – he’ll plow through until the end. Plus, all that pillow scaling and blanket-diving strengthens the large motor skills your baby will need to walk.

Here are the toys for toddlers:

Old Baby magazines + Plain Poster board + Adhesive tape = Pick A Picture

Tear out magazine photos of babies, food, animals, and anything else your toddler can identify. Help him decorate a sheet of poster board with the pictures and tape it to a wall. Cover his eyes and have him place his finger somewhere on the board. When he opens his eyes, ask him to tell you what it is.

The Lesson: Language skills. The excitement of discovering which picture he chooses gives him an incentive to talk, and naming pictures builds his vocabulary.

Plastic cup w/ lid + Baby food lid = Bank On It

Cut out a slot on a plastic container’s lid, then count out loud as your child drops each baby food lid through the hole. When she’s done, let her empty out her homemade bank and start over.

The Lesson: Sense of Scale. Putting smaller objects inside a larger one teaches toddlers about size relationships and boosts their hand-eye coordination. And hearing you say the numbers helps her learn to count.

Another fortunate reason why we don’t necessarily need to buy toys at the store is just remembering that nature is all around us – and more than ready to be our kid’s teacher. Here are ideas of some games you can also play with babies that not only show him a good time but are also wonderful brain boosters.

Touchy-feely Fun

How to play: Instead of going for a power walk, pull over every time you see something with a new texture. Let your baby feel a rough brick wall, a bumpy tree trunk, a soft flower, or a pointy evergreen bush. And be sure to describe each in detail as your baby explores.

Why babies love it: Discovering new textures is exciting for her developing sense of touch, and since she’s familiar with these objects – but has mostly just blown pass by them in the stroller or car – actually touching them makes them come alive in a new way.

What it teaches: A sense of exploration. Your baby has thrived on lots of touch from you, through cuddling, hugs, and all her soft clothes and blankets. When she touches new objects, it helps her sense of discovery grow. There’s good news for you here, too: Since this game helps your baby get comfortable with the feel of different objects in her environment, she may be less likely to protest when, say, you want her to sit on the sand or the grass later on.

When to start playing: 6 months and up. When she’s got the strength to sit up in her stroller and reach for objects.

The Need For Speed

How to play: For one block, pick up the speed so the stroller zooms along the sidewalk; then slow down to your normal – or an even slower-than-usual-pace. Continue altering the speed from fast to slow (until you need a break!).

Why babies love it: Just like a lot of adults enjoy roller coasters, most babies burst with anticipation and excitement after moving unusually fast. It’s the same kind of thrilling sensation your baby has when he’s tossed on the air and is caught by a reckless uncle you’d like to strangle (but won’t because your baby’s laughing too hard).

What it teaches: The concept of speed. For the first few months of your baby’s life, his day-to-day activities move at a fairly slow pace. When you introduce this new movement, it helps him distinguish between fast and slow.

When to start playing: 6 months and up. When your baby’s sense of motion is more refined and he has the trunk and neck strength to sit up and enjoy the ride.