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Repurposing Old Toys into Something Useful

 

Do you have old toys scattered around the house the you don’t know what to do with? Are your children too old to play with their toys, but you don’t want to part with them? Whatever the reason for the accumulation, it is not a pleasant sight to see a lot of toys cluttering your house if your children are no longer using them. Instead of letting them lie around, why not convert them into something more useful?

Here are some fun ideas for repurposing your old toys:

  • Create a uNew Entrepreneurial Hub Opens in Tulsanique lamp base out of them. If you have old character toys, you can use a lamp kit to convert them into a lamp stand. For example, your child’s favorite teddy bear may not be something they play with anymore, but displaying it as a light source is a fun way to keep it around for sentimental purposes.
  • Change your old cabinet hardware with a few themed toys. Add a screw to the backs of dinosaurs and other animal toys, or even toy cars, for fun cabinet pulls.
  • Form a mirror frame design. Do you have a number of small similar toys like race cars, Legos, or tiny action figures? Arrange them in a collage around your mirror and spray paint them with gold or silver.
  • Make art out of your toys. You can select themed toys or let your imagination run wild. Stick them on canvass and see where your creativity takes you.
  • Use Legos to form a storage container or rack for hanging items.
  • Repurpose old board games. Varnish your wooden board game. Install a stool leg in the middle and you have a new side table for your kid’s room or a game room.
  • Turn old puzzle pieces or Scrabble pieces into magnets. Glue a magnet on the back, and you have instant refrigerator art!
  • Transform small toys to key chains or bracelets. Your girls will love to wear their small memorable toys in their hands. Or, you can even be reminded of your children by attaching a toy to your key chain.
  • Use old toy trucks as bookshelves. It’s a great way to display your favorite in a way that appears as intentional decor.

Chris George Homes
Oklahoma City Realtor
Let’s get in touch: 405.843.8188

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How To Choose Age-Appropriate and Safe Toys

SM26Few things give your child more joy than a new toy (except for maybe the box that it came in…). Toys help to create a vast colorful world of endless wonder and make-believe you and I can no longer really “see”.

Unfortunately, toys today may also pose a threat if not selected properly. There are toys that unsafe and not appropriate for the age of our children. It is important for us to scrutinize toys we want to give our children first, before handing them over.

Here are some tips on how you can choose age-appropriate and safe toys for your children:

  • Check the package- Toys come with an age recommendation and some with safety instructions, be sure to read these instructions first to prevent injury. There are toys that are only ideal to 6 years old and above since these contain small parts that little ones can swallow.
  • Evaluate its durability- Is it strong enough not to easily break? It is a risky to have toys that can easily shatter into pieces and cause its small parts to scatter around or scratch your child.
  • Look for safe ingredients- You can find what makes up a toy in its own packaging. Check the ingredients and see if there are hazardous elements!
  • See if it is educational and developmentally appropriate- We want our kids to not just have fun, but also learn from their toys. Today there are ample toys available that are developmentally appropriate for your child’s age.
  • Choose simple toys- The simpler they are, the wider the imagination of your kids when playing. Toys that are too specific offer less room for the imagination as everything is already set out for them.
  • Give one toy at a time- Give your kids time to enjoy the a few toys first, so they will really maximize the enjoyment of those toys. While an argument can be made that one can never have too many toys – too many at once for a child can be less than ideal.
  • Understand the learning needs of your child based on his age- For instance, children who are 2-4 years want to stimulate their imaginations, while babies from 6-8 months do well with repeatable activities.
  • Be careful with electronic toys- Toys that are powered through batteries and electricity are risky to children especially toddlers and babies. They can try to plug and unplug or even taste the batteries.