I’ve often mentioned how much my boys thrive on imaginative play. It all started when my oldest son was just a toddler and the two of us would spend the day with a pile of toys making up stories. It didn’t take Zackary long to discover Hot Wheels and once he did, they became the stars of all our games. But because he had such a great imagination, the cars didn’t just race around. Instead they had conversations, picked up items from the store and dropped off treats for friends.
I loved the fun and kind-hearted pretend play, but that all changed when Zackary started Kindergarten. Being around other children that had been exposed to different types of games, Zackary suddenly turned every game into a battle or a competition. I know that my son’s competitive spirit is going to be beneficial to him in life once he learns to temper it a bit, but the way it completely took over his imaginative play was overwhelming! And of course, he taught his little brother how to play the same style of games as well. [Read more…]
TikeStix are the newest building craze for younger children and they are a blast! When we first opened the box, my husband and I decided to put together the cute clubhouse for the boys to see how they liked it. There were five different pieces for kids to use to create unique structures plus a lightweight plastic tarp and eight tarp clips for the clubhouse roof. I have to admit, I had a lot of fun putting the pieces together to make the boys their very own clubhouse! They put a blanket on the floor and added a few pillows to make it comfortable, and then hopped inside for the rest of the evening. Zackary even wanted to sleep in it!
But as much fun as the creations I made were, my favourite time with the TikeStix was when the boys started creating their own designs. Zackary built on my theme of flying vehicles and created an assortment of different planes and even a helicopter! Benjamin, on the other hand, decided he needed a lightsaber and attached three TikeStix pieces to make one. Watching them get creative and use their imaginations to make their own amazing toys was so satisfying!