DIY Holiday Toy Guide, Featuring Your Toys

Make your own Holiday Toy Guide featuring the toys you already have.

#1 tip before hitting the Holiday Toy Sales:

Take inventory of the toys you already have.

Free Printable Cover for your DIY Toy Guide

 After seeing how excited our kids get looking at the newspaper Holiday Toy guide ads, I thought I'd make my own Toy Guide of toys we already own for my kids to look at when they think they are bored or when I am working and need something to keep them busy.  Instead of asking them to go play, I hand them the Toy Guide and say, what do you feel like playing today? The visuals really help them want to play with their toys. It seems the only time they really want to play with their toys is when I'm cleaning or organizing their rooms when they see toys they don't remember they have. "Oh ya, I love this toy" (that they lost under their pile of dress-ups).
This process also helped me realize we already have way too many toys and  helped me to better plan for my holiday shopping this week. This will help reduce my kids' Christmas List.
Try making one of your own and use the free graphic above as your cover.

How to:

1. Open Microsoft Word, create a 'table' with 3 columns and tons of rows (as needed).

2. Search the internet to find pics of toys you have. This was quicker than laying our actual toys out and taking photos to upload. I did that for a few of our unique toys or things I've made, and if I had pix of my kids already playing with a toy I used that but for the majority I found a pic online using Google Image Search. I would cut and paste it right into my document.

3. Label all the toys - this was helpful for my 7 year old

4. Organize pages into categories. I called them "Centers" since that is what my child has at school for play time and she loves having "Centers".  Here are my "Centers":

Activity Center: (ball/bean bag toss, board games, box games, Sit 'N Spin, Hula Hoop, Jump Rope, Hallway Bowling

Creation Center: Playdough, Moon Sand, Bendaroos, Coloring books, foam stickers, lacing cards, Dry Erase Kit, Stacking Blocks, Mr. Potato Head

Exploring Center: Reading spot, felt story board, Puppets, View Master, Magnetic letters & games, Puzzles, ABC Magnet Fishing Game, Pretend Grocery store, restaurant at our Diner, Librarian.

STUFFED ANIMAL TIP:

Our kids like to make a zoo by grouping their 'like' animals, play Veterinarian, Dog Catcher, Parades, Animal Saffari (like hide and seek or an egg hunt with the stuffed animals) & Puppet Shows.

Music & Computer Center: Instruments, Juke Box Dancing, Player Piano Dancing, Beatles Rock Band, Click Start, kid lap tops, Online approved games.

Girl Center: Dress-ups, dolls, kitchen, rubber stamps, craft kits, etc...

Boy Center: Dinosaurs, Building Set, Trains, Cars, Legos, Lincoln Logs, Magnetix, Dress-Up, Pirate Treasure Box Hunt.

Outdoor Center: Sidewalk Chalk, Fort, Sandbox, Scooters, Bikes, Bubbles, I plan to add more in the summer time - like going on walks or to the park.

I Plan to add more to this guide as we get new toys or get rid of toys they grow out of.

You get the idea. Look through your house and compile your own list or categories.

5. Print pages out, put in sheet protectors and put inside a folder with 3 prongs. Print out the cover pic above or make your own then let your kids start shopping at home.

After School Tip: This is our routine

Wash Hands, Snack time, Homework & Reading Time, Center Time (pick an activity from the Toy Guide)

ObSEUSSed Book Suggestion: Too Many Toys by David Shannon. One of our favorites, read my post about having Too Many Toys.

Linked to Today's Creative Blog, Get Your Craft On Tues.

Fox on Blocks: Dr. Seuss Activity Blocks

Here are some blocks I created 7 years ago for my first baby when I could not find any commercial Dr. Seuss toys online.

I found some plain wood 2x2 blocks at a thrift store.  Then I covered each one with a bright colored craft paint, Dr. Seuss stickers, a stencil to paint letters and Modge Podge to seal them. My kids have loved stacking them. But now they're a little older and need a challenge to keep them interested in the blocks.

I just came across this inspirational craft from Mandy from the Sugar Bee Craft Edition blog. All 6 sides have a different interactive activity for your child to play with.

Click to see the Tutorial for these Dr. Seuss Activity Blocks.  It is such a creative idea. Now I want to re-do my blocks after seeing this amazing idea. I can't wait to fix my blocks up!

The blocks have 6 sides so there are 6 different activities:

1. Word Game – using “fox in socks” arrange these blocks to create lots of fun and crazy rhyme sentences.
2. Puzzle – even older kids enjoy the puzzle – it can be tricky because the blocks rotate so you have to figure which way is up.
3. Look Alike - match pictures that look alike – one is odd man out.
4. Color Naming – perfect for younger kids – name colors, have them find them, let them name colors – even “rainbow” is included.
5. Counting Fish – one fish two fish – find the blocks with specific numbers of fish, group them in “less than” “greater than” and many other fun things can be done with this side.
6. Body Parts Mix-up - head-body-feet of three “things” – match them all up, or have fun mixing them up.

You can see more cool Dr. Seuss Crafts, like a Grinch Advent Calendar, on So You Think You Can Craft.
Linking to Hookin' Up with House of Hepworths #24. Black Kat's Design, Cheap Thrills Thursday. Fingerprints on the Fridge, Feature Yourself Friday