Does your child often say to you “I’m bored” or “I don’t have anything to do”? Your reaction to statements such as these is probably one of pure bewilderment as you think of all the things you know your child has right at his fingertips. The truth of the matter is that there’s a possibility your child actually has too many toys or activities available to him. Ironic as it may seem, anabundance of choice can distract or overwhelm the young child so much that it becomes difficult for him to decide what he wants to do. After not being able to come up with satisfying or interesting ideas of his own, your child will then turn to you for direction.

When it comes to encouraging resourcefulness in your young child’s playtime, a good thing to keep in mind is that less is more. One possible solution that might help your child if his bedroom or playroom has turned into a toy store is to limit the number of toys that are available at any given time. You may want to consider putting several activities away for a time and later change out or rotate them.

In addition to the number of toys available to your child, certain types of toys can also hinder your child’s ability to be resourceful. These days, many toys blink, make noise, shake, jump or even talk to your child. When the toy performs the action, very little manipulation (if any) is left for your child. Rarely are children able to be imaginative or creative through using these toys.Hands-on activities, however, do spark the young child’s creativity and will keep his interest longer. Some examples of such open-ended activities include various building sets, clay, and finger paints.

Television is something that should definitely be limited. TV does not encourage creativity and the young child can become dependent on someone or something else to provide his entertainment. As a result, when it comes time to turn off the TV, the child may be unhappy about having to entertain himself. A great alternative to watching television is outdoor play time, where the possibilities are endless!

© Anami Montessori School