Too Many Toys

Picture book, 32 pages. Published in 2008 by Blue Sky Press.

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Using toys wisely

Every parent knows their kiddo has toooooooo many toys. This book is a laugh out loud joy to read alone - or with your child.

And it's not just the number of toys Spencer owns, but who gifted the toy, how often it is tripped over or stepped on and the hilarious back-and-forth bartering between Spencer and his Mom over which ones to give away which makes this book perfect! The book is not preachy, but a realistic view of how a child's life is tied up with his toys, but also what happens when he can let go.

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Ideas for Making it Real

There's oodles of research about the importance of toys and play in healthy child development and plenty of recommendations about the types of toys and play which best facilitates this development. But we also know from experience that there are many toys which don't measure up for one reason or another and languish under foot all the time.

Parents know that once a toy enters their home it becomes incredibly difficult to remove it. But there are a few basic questions to ask your kiddo - and yourself -before adding a toy to a give away box:

• Why do you like this toy or why is it important to you?
• Does the toy match or challenge my kiddo's developmental level?
  

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