Fun Around the House

10 Items That Make Great Infant Toys

By I.J. Schecter

As parents, we're living in a paradoxical time. On one hand, the variety of developmentally friendly infant toys available on the market is greater than ever before. On the other hand, this fact can make a visit to the nearby Toys 'R Us a depressing experience, since we somehow end up feeling like we're doing something wrong if we don't exit the store with every book, video and interactive game well-intentioned people have produced for our benefit.

But take heart. Even if you don't own every toy in existence, your baby is going to be just fine. I promise. In fact, you need not look beyond your own four walls to find plenty of items that will occupy his interest and stimulate his brain. Here's a list of 10!

Give your infant a single sheet of paper, and he might amuse himself for minutes on end waving it around, laughing at the funny flapping sound it makes or trying to tear it into a hundred tiny pieces. The activity can help him both practice his dexterity and become familiar with an everyday object. Infants' movements aren't smooth enough for them to get paper cuts, but you do have to watch out that they don't try to eat a torn-off sample. They'll probably be more interested in waving it around anyway. (Note: While regular paper makes for a fun toy, avoid letting your baby play with newspaper, since the chemicals in printer's ink can be hazardous.)

These offer several fun advantages. One: They're shiny and reflective. Two: They're fun to bang on. Three: They make an interesting noise when rattling against the ground. And four: They're fun to bang on!

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