These days, it seems parents and their children are bombarded with many images pointing to the hottest new toy. Not advertised is the latest toy craze that is inexpensive, fun and good for your child: creativity.

Play for a child should be about the process, not the actual toy. Sometimes, the simpler the toy, the better. Activities that let children explore their creative sides help them learn. For kids, play is work – it’s how they learn who they are, what their roles are, what skills they have and how to get along with others.

Creative activities should be “open-ended.” In other words, let the child decide where the activity should go. A few thoughts to inspire creative play include:

• Tupperware containers or other household items that can teach sorting or grouping.
• Playdough or clay, which is an excellent activity for developing fine motor skills.
• Watercolors, which are easy to clean up.
• Reading, followed by making puppets or pictures to describe the story they just heard or read.
• Exercise is a benefit of participating in outdoor adventures and games.

Another way to spark creativity is to have an area set up in your house just for your child. Keep it stocked with crayons, markers and other materials so that your child feels welcome to explore and play there any time.

Save items around the house such as an old sheet, a cardboard box or even toilet paper rolls. They can come in handy for a variety of activities.

If you have trouble coming up with creative ways to use things around the house for unique activities, there are many resources on the Internet to help you. A few of these include:

• Familyfun.com
• Pbs.org
• Zerotothree.org

Parents shouldn’t feel they have to buy their children the latest and greatest toy on the market. There also is such a thing as too much television or video games. Children’s Health Education Center recommends a maximum of two hours total per day for children to be on the computer, watching television or playing video games. Televisions and computers also should be in areas where the family gathers and where the child can be monitored, not in the child’s room.

Overall, your family should strike a balance in activities to make sure there are enough creative options. Creativity benefits the emotional health of children, encourages them to think on their own and celebrates their uniqueness – plus, it can be fun for the whole family!

Colleen Schultz is the education manager for Children’s Health Education Center. Learn more at www.BlueKids.org.

A toaster for $2! A set of encyclopedias for $10! The bargains we find at local rummage sales and resale shops can be too good to believe … and sometimes they are. Many people purchase or sell what might be dangerous or recalled items without even knowing it.

A recent survey conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission showed nearly 70 percent of all resale shops visited had at least one dangerous or recalled product for sale. The next time you go bargain hunting, be sure to watch for recalled items or items that do not meet current safety standards. Be especially aware of these potential dangers:

Cribs. Older cribs can entrap, strangle or even suffocate children. Cribs with more than 2 3/8” between crib slats or cut-outs on the headboard or footboard may suffocate or strangle a child. Cribs with missing or broken parts or corner posts higher than 1/16” also present a risk of death.

Car seats. Car seats can be dangerous when the seat crash history is unknown. It also can be difficult to determine if all parts are present and in good working condition. It is recommended that seats not be used any longer than six years from the date of manufacture.

Clothing. Clothing with drawstrings around the neck on children’s jackets and sweatshirts can catch and strangle children.  Drawstrings can be pulled out or cut on children’s jackets and sweatshirts.

Toys. Toys need to be inspected for loose or missing pieces that could be dangerous, especially for a young child.

Before hosting your next garage sale or heading out for a little bargain hunting, visit www.recalls.gov. This Web site provides easy access to recall and safety information designed to help you become an educated consumer. You also may contact Safe Kids Southeast Wisconsin at (414) 390-2178 for more detailed information.

Bridget Clementi is director of Children’s Health Education Center. CHEC is the lead agency of Safe Kids Wisconsin and Safe Kids Southeast Wisconsin coalitions. Each offer resources and programs for children, parents, teachers and caregivers to help keep children healthy and safe. Safe Kids Wisconsin and Southeast Wisconsin specifically work to prevent childhood accidental injuries, the leading cause of death among children ages 14 and younger.

 
FAST FACT: In Wisconsin we call them rummage sales, but in other parts of the country these type of events are more commonly referred to as garage or yard sales. In the United Kindom they hold "jumble sales."