Hello friends! I know I haven’t been very active on this blog and there is a good reason for that. Between my daughter’s food allergy treatment program which has us flying to California every 3 months and me still writing my dissertation, it’s hard to find time to write here. One thing that I do make time for is trying to live more sustainably which I share on my instagram page. That journey has led me down many paths and projects and I’m excited to be sharing this one with you. I started Low Waste Eid three years ago as a way to showcase and encourage a slower, more conscientious approach to celebrating Eid; an approach that is part of the ethos of our faith. Each year I am awed by the creativity and thoughtfulness of the contributors and this year is no exception. As you will come to see, it is perfectly possible to decorate and gift in a socially responsible way. All you need is a bit of imagination and resourcefulness. I am looking forward to writing more consistently about my low waste journey when life gets a little less chaotic but in the meantime, you can download the ebook guide full of low waste gift ideas and decor below.
If you enjoyed this guide, please share it with your family and friends and please show these wonderful contributors your support by following them on instagram and engaging with their content.
Before the pandemic, my children were attending a play-based early learning center a few times a week while I worked on my dissertation. When the lockdown hit in March of 2020 and their school closed, I felt compelled to recreate the structure they enjoyed so much in their classroom. The teacher kindly sent us their schedule and at first I attempted to stick to the timing of each activity. But with a third baby calling the shots, it became clear that a strict schedule couldn’t work for us. I wanted structure and the kids needed it too but it needed to be built around something other than time. I thought about activities we do everyday that were an integral part of our life: sharing meals, reading together, playing outside, resting, etc. and I centered our rhythm around those. It worked for us, it really worked. The kids picked up on it over time and it made life easier for all of us. Fast forward a few months later when I was deciding between homeschooling or virtual school, I realized there was just no way I could have my kids sit in front of a computer screen for 4 hours a day. It just wasn’t fair to them. Kids need time to play, explore, and move. I dived straight into homeschooling and never looked back.
And then I was confronted with how I would structure our homeschool days. After some deep reflection, research, and a bit of unlearning, I realized that homeschool did not have to look like traditional schooling. We didn’t need to sit down 6 hours hopping from reading to math to science every 30 minutes. Rather than adhering to a strict schedule for our homeschool days, we adapted the rhythm to give our children both the structure and flexibility they deserve. It did not happen overnight but over time they have internalized this natural flow to our daily and weekly routines (another post). Today I’m sharing a poster I designed that captures what our homeschool rhythm looks like. Feel free to implement this for your family or use this poster as a guide to build your own daily rhythm. You can download it below for free and print it to hang in your home.
P.S. If you found this post and the poster helpful, it would make me so happy if you shared it with your friends. I’d also love to hear any feedback in the comments below.
Eid is just around the corner and we are back with another volume of Low Waste Eid. This is something I really enjoy putting together because I truly believe it’s important to rethink our holiday traditions in light of the climate crisis. Foil balloons, wrapping paper, and shiny toys for Eid are all nice on the surface but what happens when we are done with these things. Where do they go? Out of sight, out of mind is not an ethically justifiable position. Change takes time and while perfection is not possible, we must start somewhere. I hope this guide will be a source of inspiration to take that step. I hope you’ll see that Eid can be just as festive and special when we lessen our impact by making or upcycling gifts and decor. If you decide to make something from the guide or are inspired to create something from what you have on hand, please share and use the hashtag #lowwasteeid. I’ll be sharing your creations on my instagram as we get closer to Eid.
If you enjoyed this guide, please share it with your family and friends and please show these wonderful contributors your support by following them on instagram and engaging with their content.
It’s been almost a year since we’ve updated this blog and a lot has been going on behind the scenes. Our youngest (baby #3) was diagnosed with multiple food allergies and to say it’s been a stressful journey is an understatement. Never mind that we are in the midst of a pandemic homeschooling a kindergartner while I try desperately to finish writing my dissertation. As much as I love writing and blogging, I’ve had to recognize that it’s just not possible in this season of life. To stay connected and keep a creative outlet for my own sanity, I transitioned to mostly posting on Instagram. It’s been interesting to say the least. As an anthropologist-in-training, I found myself fascinated by the behaviors and beliefs embedded in Instagram culture. But I also found myself mortified.
Even with a strong sense of confidence and contentment, it’s easy to get sucked into feeling negatively about yourself. As I begun to share posts highlighting some of these behaviors and assumptions, many people reached out sharing how Instagram made them feel. Some described that it felt like being in high school all over again; the cliques, the pressure to fit in, the bullying, etc. I began to reflect on this microcosm of reality and how toxic it is set up to be. For example, success is measured by metrics such as follower count, likes, and comments. Bloggers with high follower counts are given preferential consideration for paid work in the form of brand deals and partnerships where they in turn market said products through perfectly curated feeds all while promoting particular (and often quite problematic) narratives of beauty, health, relationships, and success. I soon noticed new bloggers employing a number of deceptive tactics to bump up their stats all the while spewing nonsense about authenticity and community. These experiences, along with multiple conversations I’ve had, inspired this workbook as a way to sift through the toxicity and the rat race that is influencer culture. This isn’t to say Instagram is all bad. I have made many wonderful friends on Instagram (friends I have never met in person but feel like I’ve known all my life) and I have found communities in the sustainability and social justice niches that inspire me to learn more and do better. I think one can find the good on social media platforms like Instagram but I also think it’s much easier to do once you’re aware of how to avoid the poison. There’s no magic solution but I hope this workbook will be a great starting point for you if you’ve ever struggled to stay afloat amidst illusions of the perfect LIEfstyle.
If you found this post and the workbook helpful, it would make me so happy if you shared it with your friends. I’d also love to hear any feedback in the comments below.
Hello friends! It’s been a minute since I’ve written a post on this blog. I’ll spare you all the boring details but since last Ramadan, we’ve added a third baby to our family, Sufi graduated with his MBA, and we flipped another house. I’m still trying to finish my dissertation while juggling life with three kids during a pandemic. As you can see we have our hands full! But as many of you know, blogging is my creative outlet and absolutely necessary for my mental health so I’ve made some time to do something I enjoy while creating a resource for you to help you make Eid 2020 special as sustainably as possible.
Low Waste Eid is a compilation of beautiful and thoughtful gifts from a diverse group of talented Muslim bloggers. The emphasis is on minimizing waste and getting creative by using what you have around your home. These days, it’s easy to get caught up in the consumerist impulse even when it comes to Muslim holidays but given the devastating effects materialism has on the environment, human rights, and our spiritual health (among many other things) it’s time we rethink how we consume. Even if you purchase the majority of your gifts, I hope you’ll attempt to make one of these low-waste gifts from our guide. Every journey begins with one step and there’s never a better time than now to take a step towards living more sustainably.
If you enjoyed this ebook, please share it with your family and friends and please show these wonderful contributors your support by following them on instagram and engaging with their content.
Ramadan is more than halfway over and like us, many of you are probably thinking ahead to Eid (early Eid Mubarak!). While many people traditionally give Eid money to children, it seems more and more people are opting for physical gifts. Often these gifts can be a source of stress for parents as the accumulation of toys is daunting to deal with (speaking from experience here). On top of that, many toys are made cheaply to satisfy short term interests and end up being wasteful in the long run. What to do? That’s where this gift guide comes in!
The list and links you will find in this guide are for toys that are either eco-friendly (made from wood or recycled plastics), sustainably and ethically made, or for long term educational use. These are toys we have either purchased for Eid previously or are considering for Eid this year. I’ve tried to include diverse options and price points so I hope you’ll find something for you. After the list of toys, you will find sources for some fun DIY gift options as well as printable Eid envelopes if you’re going to go the cash route. I am also including a list of ideas for fun experiences you can do with your family on Eid. It should go without saying that Eid is not about gifting but rather a time of celebration with family so please don’t let this post make you feel overwhelmed. Lastly, I would like to point out that buying second-hand is the more sustainable option for our environment but I understand that it’s frowned upon in certain cultures as “cheap.” These toys are for those looking to purchase new toys but want more mindful, socially responsible options; they are definitely not the latest and greatest toy trends of 2019.
Books are one of my favorite gift options for children because they open up a whole new world and encourage parent-child bonding time. Gifting books is extra special when you know the child’s interests and nothing is better than seeing a child’s face light up as they flip through a good book. Here are some wonderful book options:
2. Opinel Le Petit Chef– This knife and peeler equipment set for children aged 7-11 is an excellent gift for your favorite kitchen helper and offers the perfect opportunity to bond over meal prep as well as teach cooking safety early on.
3. Kiddie Woods Doctor Kit-This doctor’s kit is beautifully made and perfect for imaginative play. We bought this for our kids for Eid last year and they still love role playing doctor together. Needless to say it was a huge hit!
4. Kid’s Beginner Microscope– If you have a curious, budding scientist on your hands, this microscope is perfect for introducing STEM and encouraging exploration and learning.
5. PlanToys Assorted Fruits and Vegetables– These are the perfect addition to a play kitchen set or for a child that enjoys playing chef. I love this company because of their focus on sustainability and using reclaimed rubber woods. They have a large and wonderful selection of wooden toys for babies and toddlers and you can browse them all here.
6. Tegu Magnetic Blocks-Magnetic blocks are a great toy for encouraging creative play and supporting cognitive development. I love that Tegu blocks are made from durable solid wood and that the company cares about social impact by prioritizing “long term employee growth and development.”
7. ALEX Pretend Tin Tea Set-What child doesn’t love a good tea party? The set pictured is made of tin and I included it because it’s durable and withstands the clumsiness of toddlers but if you’re gifting an older, more responsible child then this porcelain set is a gorgeous and affordable option.
8. Green Toys Indoor Gardening Set– These planters with seeds make an excellent gift for the nature-loving child in your life. I love Green Toys because they are made from recycled plastics and they also have a huge selection of toys for children of all ages. You can browse them here.
9. Wishbone Design Studio 3-in-1 Bike-This is the priciest gift on this list but if you’ve been on the lookout for a toddler bike then this is a wonderful option. It’s made from sustainably-harvested wood, converts from a baby walker to a balance bike, and won Best Green Toy in 2011.
10. Cuddle + Kind Handknit Dolls– You can’t go wrong with a classic doll especially when it’s handmade from 100% cotton using sustainable, fair trade practices. My favorite part about this company is that it’s family-owned and the purchase of each doll provides 10 meals to children in need.
11. National Geographic Fossil Dig Kit– Another great STEM gift that is the perfect balance of learning and fun. I’m probably getting this for my son because he LOVES to “dig” for dinosaur bones in the yard and I love the hands-on learning it will offer. Not a dinosaur enthusiast? No worries! National Geographic has plenty of other hands-on learning kits here.
12. Sarah’s Play Silks– These play silks are not only beautiful but perfect for all sorts of open-ended play. I love this company because it’s family-owned, specializes in Waldorf inspired toys, and uses natural materials such as wood and silk.
13. HABA Bonita Garden– This beautifully painted stacking peg toy is perfect for younger toddlers and fosters creativity, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. I love HABA because their wooden toys are made to last and are colored with non-toxic, water-based stains. The German company also has a diverse selection of other wooden toys and puzzles that you can browse through here.
Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas
These are some simple, fun DIY gifts you can make together with your kids. I am considering making one of these to have on hand for young Eid visitors or to send as Eid favors for my children’s classes.
Giving the traditional Eid money is easier because it takes the stress out of gift giving and gives the parents the option to spend or invest as they see fit (college fund, much needed summer clothes, etc.) . If you go that route, we have you covered with some free and purchasable Eid envelope options.
While we do usually get one simple gift for the kids, we believe the best gift (and most sustainable gift) is spending quality time together so we’re taking the guesswork out of your Eid planning by sharing some fun things you can do during these special days.
A trip to the zoo
A movie outing
A picnic, BBQ, or kite flying at the park
Strawberry picking (or whatever fruit is in season)
Mini-golf
Bowling
A family bike ride
A visit to a local museum
Go Paddle-boating or canoeing
Go out for ice cream
Take family pictures
We hope you’ve found this comprehensive gift guide helpful. If you do, we would greatly appreciate you sharing this post with family and friends across your favorite social media channels. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments below and as always….
The month of Ramadan begins in just a few days and aside from decorating which I’ve written about in the past (see here and here), I’ve been trying to find ways to get the kids more involved in the spirit of Ramadan. Both of our children are at an age where they understand certain concepts such as “helping” and “being nice” so I wanted to take this month as an opportunity to practice mindfulness of their actions and reflect on the impact those actions can have on themselves (feeling good), on others ( the social impact of a helping hand), and on the environment (consequences of consumption and the destruction of nature). I’ve come across similar good deed countdowns for Christmas and Ramadan but found that many of them were geared towards older children so I tried making a list that was appropriate for children aged 2+. Obviously they won’t be able to do all of these on their own but that’s kind of the point; it’s a family activity.
Feel free to switch up the order of the cards and even alter the activity to fit your lifestyle and/or child’s level of understanding. I think you’ll get the most mileage out of these activities when you use them to spark conversation on why we do what we do (making beds=the importance of cleanliness, visiting a sick family member=caring for others in need, planting flowers=the earth as a trust we should care for, etc.) You get the point. If you do have a Ramadan advent calendar or are considering making one, just know that the document I’ve included can be adjusted during the printing process to fit the size of your calendar. Simply click on “layout” and select how many pages you’d like to print on a page. For my calendar with 3×3 inch pockets, I printed 16 pages on 1 page so that I could cut them out as cards about 2.5 x 2.5 inches in size. The only thing I would suggest is that you print them on sturdy card stock so that you can use them year after year.
I think that about covers everything. If you found this post and the printables helpful, we would love it if you would share with your friends and/or provide feedback in the comments below. And if you do participate in our 30 days of Mindful Deeds, we would love it if you would share on your instagram stories or feed and tag us @thecozyhomechronicles. We will also be sharing in the hopes of inspiring others to try these activities because it really does take a village and together we can hopefully raise a kinder, more mindful generation.
Last week we went to Walt Disney World for what will likely be our last vacation as a family of four before baby #3 arrives early this summer. Although we’ve vacationed with Disney on a cruise last year, this was our first experience with the parks and it was nothing short of magical. Now that we’ve recovered from the miles of walking and have settled back into a mostly screen-free, sugar-free routine with the kids, I thought it would be perfect to break down our 5-day trip and answer some of the frequently asked questions we received from those following along on Instagram. Planning a Disney trip can be overwhelming because there are so many attractions, dining options, and resorts to choose from so we hope that by sharing our itinerary and tips, we can make this process less intimidating and stressful for you.
Our Stay
With resort options ranging from $100/night to $1,000/night (even more), choosing where to stay can really make or break a vacation budget. We stayed at the All-Star Movies Resort which had a 4.3 rating on Google and was on the lower end of the range for Disney resorts. It wasn’t anything fancy but it did the job and was definitely family friendly with a large food court, two swimming pools, a playground, jogging trail, and arcade. The kids enjoyed the themed statues from Toy Story and 101 Dalmations and we loved that there was on-site laundry so that we were able to return home with clean clothes in our luggage.
The best part about staying at a Disney resort is that there is no need to rent a car (and car seat)s or worry about transportation. A Disney shuttle picks you up from the airport and drops you back to the airport at the end of your stay. On top of that, there are round the clock shuttles from the resort to all of the Disney parks. Not only does this translate into savings but the peace of mind that comes from not having to worry about strapping toddlers into a car, GPSing to the parks, and parking is priceless. We can’t stress that enough.
Attractions In this next section, I’m sharing all the rides and shows we experienced at each of the parks. With me being pregnant and having two kids aged 2.5 and 3.5 meant we were limited with what rides we could go on so everything listed is friendly for all ages. A few weeks before our trip, we went through the map of each park and checked off potential rides and shows we would hit. Traveling with toddlers means you have to be very flexible and work around their needs so our itinerary served more as a guide rather than a strict schedule but we highly suggest you do the same before you travel as it takes much of the guesswork out of what comes next.
Disney’s Magic Kingdom The Magic Carpets of Aladdin Jungle Cruise Peter Pan’s Flight Dumbo the Flying Elephant Mickey’s PhilharMagic Show Mad Tea Party Princess Fairytale Hall Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade Happily Ever After Fireworks
Hollywood Studios Disney Junior Dance Party Alien Swirling Saucers (must be 32″) Star Wars Launch Bay Muppet Vision 3D Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage Star Wars: Path of the Jedi
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Na’vi River Journey Festival of the Lion King Kiliminjaro Safaris UP! A Great Bird Adventure Maharajah Jungle Trek Rivers of Light The Boneyard Finding Nemo-The Musical
While these lists may seem small, our days were completely booked once you include ride wait times, bathroom breaks, nap time, and grabbing a bite to eat. We definitely felt Hollywood Studios had the least to offer and we were a bit disappointed with Toy Story Land after all the hype so we left in the afternoon and did not return. Instead we spent the evening at the resort pool and we are so glad we did! It was a nice way to wind down with the kiddos after two days of walking around the parks.
My Disney Experience Disney has a free mobile app that we highly recommend you download. It is an invaluable tool for managing every aspect of your vacation from checking wait times on rides to securing FastPass+ and even ordering food. Mobile ordering was a lifesaver for us when the lines were long and the kids were fussy and wanted to eat. The app also had a map of each park with detailed information about rides and restaurant menus along with the option to map directions to the next attraction on our schedule.
FastPass+ This deserves it’s own section just to emphasize how important it is that you reserve your FastPasses as far in advance as possible. With your purchase of Disney park passes, you get to reserve 3 FastPasses per person per day as early as 30 days in advance (60 days if you’re staying at a Disney Resort). This allows you to skip the stand-by line wait time for your selected attraction as long as you arrive within the designated arrival window time. Although it was our first time attending the parks and we weren’t sure what was worth reserving, we did a pretty decent job with our selections. Here are the attractions we highly recommend securing a FastPass+ for after witnessing their very long wait times: Kiliminjaro Safaris and Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom, Disney Junior Dance Party at Hollywood Studios, and Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom.
Food We tried to be as pragmatic and realistic as possible when it came to planning meals with kids. While we are major foodies and would have loved to experience some of Disney’s fancier restaurants, it was just not logistically possible to dress up mid-day and sit down with the kids for a long period of time. Before our trip, I scoured through the menus at each park and narrowed down a list of restaurants that were mostly quick service and had vegetarian/seafood options to accommodate our food restrictions (halal). To be fair, Disney does offer you the option of reserving table dinning ahead of time and selecting a halal (or kosher) meat option but let’s face it we all need to eat less meat and sticking to a dinning reservation was just not realistic for us.
Park snack food is not the healthiest and the cost can add up quickly so the smartest thing we did was Amazon Prime groceries from Whole Foods to our resort room on the first day. We ordered grapes, strawberries, bananas, tangerines, and baby carrots along with milk, cereal, bagels, and cream cheese. We had also packed with us non-perishable snacks like granola, puffs, fruit pouches, apple sauce, date bars, and “healthy” vegan fruit snacks. All of these ensured we had a nourishing breakfast and snacks for the kids as well as incentives for waiting in line patiently. Of course we still had to eat lunch and dinner outside so I’m including a list below of what we enjoyed and recommend at each of the parks. Although our kids ate mostly what we ate, my sister’s children were a little pickier and stuck with pizza so I’ve also included those places where we stopped to get a slice for the kids.
Magic Kingdom Aloha Isle: Dole Whip soft serve and floats Columbia Harbour House: Grilled salmon with rice and veggies, tuna sandwiches, fried shrimp and fish, and Harbour salad (minus the bacon)
Hollywood Studios Fairfax Fare: Vegetarian Chili Rice Bowls Catalina Eddie’s: Cheese pizza with milk and yogurt Hollywood Scoops: Ice cream sundae, apple crisp a la mode, hand-scooped ice cream
Animal Kingdom Pizzafari: Cheese pizza, milk, and Lion King cupcakes Harambe Market: Corn on the cob, Roasted vegetable bowl, Frozen flamingo drink Yak & Yeti Restaurant: Ahi Tuna nachos (substituted shrimp for tuna), coconut shrimp, fried wontons, mango pie, Shanghai lemonade
Although we mostly ate breakfast in our room (courtesy of our Amazon Prime order), we did have breakfast at the resort on the first morning where the kids enjoyed a Mickey waffle while the adults had omelets with potatoes. We also had dinner at the resort one of the nights and opted for the build-your-own pasta which had vegan, vegetarian, and seafood options. Lastly, a Disney experience wouldn’t be complete without a Mickey pretzel and Mickey bars for the kids but the good news is you can find them at many stands throughout the parks.
Tips and Suggestions
Pack Reusable Water Bottles: Aside from the obvious environmental reasons to do this, plastic bottled water at the parks is expensive. It’s so much easier to have water on hand especially when thirst hits. Every morning, we would fill all three of our canteens at the resort food court with ice and cold water and would restock at water fountains around the park throughout the day.
Take your own cutlery and straws: As a family that strives to reduce our negative environmental impact, I was really disheartened with the amount of waste that is produced at these parks. Thankfully, I remembered to pack my stainless steel straws and two sets of cutlery which meant I could refuse the single-use straws and utensils. It’s not a significant waste reducer but it’s better than nothing.
Don’t waste FastPass+ on shows: With the exception of The Festival of the Lion King, we regretted wasting FastPass+ on the other shows because the stand-by lines weren’t long at all. Plus, with toddlers, we didn’t mind sitting in the back because it was easier to sneak out when we were hit with the dreaded “I need to go potty.” Next time we would reserve FastPass+ for rides and take our chances on the shows since they have several viewings throughout the day.
Consider doing two parks and spending one day to recoup at the resort: This advice really depends on what you want out of a vacation and while we loved everything we did; we did feel a little exhausted at the end of it because we pushed ourselves to hit as much as possible. Looking back and knowing what we know now, we would probably skip on Hollywood Studios and spend a day just relaxing at the resort.
Pack Lightweight Ponchos & Stroller Rain Covers: It’s a given that you should check the weather forecast a few days before your trip and while we did, there were some unexpected showers that we wish we were prepared for. The rain came and went and it wasn’t hard to find shelter but our stroller did get stuck in the rain and I wish we had the foresight to come a little extra prepared. It doesn’t hurt.
Don’t forget sunscreen, sun hats, and sunglasses: This maybe more relevant if you’re traveling in the spring or summer but either way it’s important to bring sun protection especially if you’re spending the whole day at the park. We could definitely see the effects of the sun beating down on the kids and we were grateful we had sunscreen, protective gear, and plenty of water to keep them safe.
Travel with family or friends: Traveling with toddlers isn’t as bad as people make it out to be but it was super fun and helpful to have my sister and her family with us. Her kids are fairly close in age to ours and it was nice to have an extra pair of hands and eyes to rely on when the need arose. If my kids were acting up, a gentle reminder from their aunt went a long way and vice versa.
I think we’ve covered a lot of ground in this post so I’ll wrap it up here. We hope that you’ll find our recommendations and reviews helpful for planning your very own Disney World vacation. If you have specific questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below and if you’ve planned a similar trip and have advice for other readers, we would love to hear from you as well. If you found this post informative, we would appreciate it if you would like it and share it with others. And as always,
The month of Ramadan is just around the corner and this year is a busy time for us as we are expecting baby #3 in July. As you may already know, decorating the home for Ramadan is something we do every year and this year is no exception. We are, however, trying to be more conscious of our waste so I’m really focusing on using what we have and making what we don’t. That’s why I’m super excited to share this DIY Ramadan craft project featuring With a Spin’s cookie cutters. This project makes use of everyday ingredients in your pantry, can be customized to your style, and the finished product can be used year after year. Now that’s what I call a win-win-win. While, I love neutral minimalist tones, the kids wanted vibrant colors so that’s what we went with. The decorating possibilities are truly endless. Let’s make some salt dough ornaments!
Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup salt 1 cup warm water
Mix warm water into flour and salt mixture to form a dough. Knead for 10 minutes until smooth.
Roll out dough about 1/4-1/2 inch thick and cut out desired shapes. Use a toothpick or skewer to punch a hole near the top of the shape for the string.
Place shapes on a baking sheet and bake for 5 hours at 200 F.
Let cool overnight and paint with acrylic or craft paint.
Thread with string to make individual ornaments for hanging or string several together to make a festive garland.
That’s it! This is such a simple and fun craft to make with the kids and a wonderful way to get them involved in the Ramadan spirit. If you liked this craft and found it inspiring, we would love if you shared it. If you make this DIY, be sure to share a picture of your creation and tag us on Instagram @thecozyhomechronicles.
For more related content, you can find us on Instagram where we share more of our day-to-day and Pinterest where we share our ideas and inspiration. If you have any thoughts or suggestions about this DIY project, feel free to leave a comment below. And as always…
With such a large and diverse selection of toys out there, choosing toys for growing toddlers can be such a daunting task. We are huge fans of toys that nurture creativity and imagination through free play so when a reader asked us to share our favorite toys for our children, we thought it would be perfect for a post. I chose these specific toys because I find that they engage with important cognitive, physical, and social skills including but not limited to:
simple reasoning
spatial awareness
symbolic thinking
problem solving
pattern recognition
visual discrimination
depth perception
cause and effect
manipulation
muscle control, balance, and coordination
working memory
curiosity
self-expression
learning
Keep in mind that our kids are 2 and 3.5 years old so be sure to check the minimum age requirement on a toy before you make a purchase. Although we included links where to find these on Amazon, we recommend to check yard sales, local toy shops, and thrift stores because you never know what you might find! Many of the toys we have such as wooden blocks, cookware, and train sets we purchased from IKEA for a very reasonable price so if you live near one check there first.
This was one of our children’s first toys and a huge hit even to this day. We build everything from trains and animals to houses and zoos. When the kids were younger, we also used playtime with blocks as an opportunity to explore concepts like colors and numbers.
This is a more recent investment as we wanted to expose our kids to more STEM activities. Not only do children learn about the physical properties of magnets through discovery, but the possibilities in connecting and constructing are endless.
Although we don’t have these at home, we do play with these often at the local museum where we have a membership. It’s another excellent building activity and I love it because it engages with a variety of cognitive skills.
We highly recommend having a set of puzzles in your toy arsenal. There are so many kinds and they’re an excellent way to teach concepts through exploratory play; everything from animals to shapes, colors, and letters.
This may seem similar to the MegaBloks but these are made of wood and have a variety of different shapes. Building with them requires a different kind of skill set and I love how nicely they go with a wooden train building set.
The kids love to take out the animals and let their imaginations run wild. The thing I love about these is you can incorporate them into activities with other toys such as building blocks or play-dough. Our kids get really engaged in activity time when we give them play-dough and animal/people figures.
Play dough is a staple in our household and for good reason. Shaping and manipulating dough engages a variety of fine motor skills and symbolic thinking as children use their imagination to transform the dough into something more complex. Our kids enjoy cutting out shapes, rolling out pizza, and sculpting their own unique “masterpieces.”
We recently invested in a play kitchen but even without one the kids enjoyed playing with kitchen tools for the longest time. Add some play food into the mix and the kids will have a blast preparing all sorts of tasty pretend meals for you.
Instead of a chalkboard, we DIYed a chalkboard wall but the concept is the same. Chalkboards offer hours of unlimited doodling fun. The best part? Unlike paper it’s reusable and the clean up is super simple.
Believe it or not, building a working train track requires important problem solving skills. Although these will take time to learn, building a train track is so much fun. Add in animal/toy figures, blocks, or play dough and you can create complex cityscapes for even more fun and developmental learning.
There you have it! Ten of our favorite toys that foster creative and imaginative play. If you’re a parent of a toddler (or toddlers), we would love it if you shared some of your favorite toys in the comments below. And as always, if you found this post helpful please like and share.
THE COZY HOME CHRONICLES 