On Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 11:02 PM, Perry E. Metzger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
> > Eugen Leitl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > On Wed, Sep 03, 2008 at 12:33:16PM -0400, Perry E. Metzger wrote: > > > >> > Any alternative suggestions? > >> > >> Wooden blocks. Duplo when the child is a bit older. > One of the things that I found excellent for my daughter...it developed both drawing and writing skills, and she expressed herself!...was a large-sized magnetic slate (I think the brand was called Magna Doodle). At that time, such things were not available in India, so I bought two when I went to S'pore...she worked her way through one, but the other one still reposes at the bottom of her cupboard.... if you can get something with more "pixels" and "resolution" it will be even better. Get the largest one you can find. Though you can sit the kid in front of the computer with some painting software, this is a non-electricity option that will go along with you on trips, too. I didn't know about the lesser-cost alternative called "Tyco", so we bought her a large set of Lego (those were the days when it wasn't as specialized as it seems to be now) and a couple of Lego wind-up motors. She made her own toys and would play endlessly with them. I suppose Duplo is like that...building blocks are truly a great toy for the child. My daughter has never wanted play with dolls or toy kitchen utensils....they would lie unused...so when she asked for a Barbie, I reluctantly bought one for her. The fad lasted until her birthday, when she looked at the Barbie accessories she had received, and said, " I haven't got any presents, only Barbie has!" And something I get for children abroad, which is still dirt cheap in India....a cricket bat and a ball, which we need not buy with pads or other protective equipment. All my young nieces and nephews have apparently enjoyed the resulting games very much. Well....balls of all sizes are great toys, too. -Deepa.
