By Christina Wetzel
You think you’ve found your toddler-aged daughter, son, niece or nephew the perfect toy for the holidays or their birthday. They open their gift and it looks like they love what you gave them. But wait a minute, now they’re excited about something else: the wrapping paper, the box or the bow.
Sound familiar?
Toddlers are constantly looking for their next discovery and adventure, and wrapping paper and boxes can offer them more opportunities for exploration than a toy or stuffed animal. At this age, they are beginning to understand how they can use their senses to understand the world around them. For example, wrapping paper crinkles, makes noises, changes shape, and is so shiny and colorful. You can’t blame them for being interested in something so new and different.
Play is an essential tool in a child’s development and “testing” new things like wrapping paper is only the beginning. It’s important for us all to introduce a sense of exploration to our children at an early age so that wherever they are – whether it’s the backyard or the playground – they are excited to observe and play in the world around them.
During the holidays this year, let them tear and scrunch away or cut holes into boxes to create mini playhouses. You don’t want them to miss out on these unplanned moments of discovery!

By Laura Nizlek
As November slides into December and the temperatures start to plummet, a parent’s instinct is often to keep their kids inside where they will stay warm and dry. But for most kids, that sparkling white fluff falling from the sky is too tempting to watch from the window. I was the kid who was always begging to head outside for some winter fun – even though my parents couldn’t understand why I wanted to play out in below freezing temperatures.
Just because the flakes are falling, it doesn’t mean you – or your kids – need to spend all day indoors. Winter playtime can be full of new and exciting activities, like building snow creatures and snow slides. Instead of abandoning the outdoors, encourage your kids to head out and feel better about it by making sure they take the proper precautions.
Bundle up. Dressing your child properly is particularly important. A winter coat, boots, hat, mittens, and snow pants are essential for outside play. Leg warmers keep snow from sliding into boots.
Be weary of ice. Before you let your kids adventure through the playground or backyard, check for ice patches. You don’t want them to slip and fall.
Check for loose strings and clothing. Take the time to make sure scarves and strings on jackets and hats are tucked in, to keep them from getting caught on any equipment.
And for some added fun, end the playtime adventure with marshmallowy hot chocolate by the fire while those wet clothes dry out!

By Lesley Sillaman

Now that the pleasant summer weather has arrived and the sun is out longer, it’s part of our evening family ritual to spend time at our local playground(s). My daughter is 2 and in the 18 months or so since we’ve been bringing her to playgrounds, I’ve seen a complete play transformation.

The shy baby who began her play education by gingerly “sliding” down a slide while held by her father or me now tries to run up the slide daily (with mixed success). Watching her discover new equipment – and ways to use it – is fascinating and can be scary. I have to hold myself back from “over-instructing” and let her experiment and discover on her own. The education is a fast one. In a matter of weeks, she’s gone from needing help on a particular rope-climbing apparatus to bounding up it alone in a matter of seconds. The day she started swinging from the overhead bar above the slide, I took pictures and immediately emailed them to friends and family (see attached!)

Her interactions with other children are different as well. When we initially started coming to the playground, she was very much in her own world. As parents, we got excited when we’d see a friend from her daycare center, but she didn’t seem to care (neither did the other child!) Now, when she sees other kids on pieces of equipment, she immediately wants to play on those pieces, with those children. She goes running to older girls at a rate I can barely keep up with, leaving me in the dust, thinking to myself, “remember when she used to need me?”

I’m now expecting my second child, and my daughter can’t wait to take the baby to the playground. I’m not sure she understands yet that the baby won’t make a great play mate for another few months (at least!) but she’s excited to teach her soon-to-be sibling all that she’s learned already – at the ripe old age of 2. At this rate, I can’t wait to see what the next 18 months will bring.