Toys for Nursery - Age-Appropriate Choices

In general terms, children in the Primary Nursery go through two play stages, manipulation and imagination.  Children ages 18 months through 2 years are all about discovering the world and improving their own skills by manipulating themselves and objects; stacking, sorting, picking-up, throwing, pushing, and pulling.  Three-year-olds are exploring life through imagining and acting out the roles they observe in the world; mother, father, truck driver, policeman, fireman, farmer, and much more.  The following list will give you a general idea of how to select toys appropriate for the Primary Nursery.  Always keep in mind the safety and wash-ability of any toys that are used.  Gently used toys in good repair or new toys can be purchased with the approval of the Primary president using budget funds designated for the Primary. 

18 months to 2 years

Toys:

• Stacking and sorting
• Push or pull toys, especially those that make noises and have removable people
• Puzzles with a few large chunky pieces that are easy to grasp and fit into a specific space

Books:

• Books that improve vocabulary and awareness of the world without story-lines

Art Supplies: 

• A few basic colors of crayons (coloring will be in large strokes that frequently go off the paper)
• Chalk and a chalkboard
• Clay, such as Playdoh (if you choose to use this medium check-out the blog "Play Dough Play" for a recipe and suggestions to make this activity successful in the Primary Nursery.

3 years

Toys:

• Dress-up clothes and hats 
• Child size dishes, pans, and play food
• Tool sets
• Phones
• Dolls and clothing 
• Interlocking blocks that easily stack
• Simple puzzles with a few interlocking pieces to create a picture

Books:

• Books with a simple story-line especially with rhyming and/or words creating rhythm

Art Supplies:

• Glue sticks
• Colored paper
• Large beads for threading on pipe cleaners or laces

Keep toys with multiple parts together in baskets or bins and have a tote ready to take home toys that will need a trip through the dishwasher before the next nursery playtime.  Each Sunday a few toys (about two per child [example: four children = 6 to 8 toys]) should be made available at child-level on shelves or tables for the children to choose from.  Rotate the toys every few weeks to keep things interesting.  A few well selected toys will result in an organized environment where children are safe and happy.

Using the Scriptures in Primary - "Look For"

A teaching tip on the June page of the 2010 Outline for Sharing Time, p 12, states, "It is important for children to learn gospel truths from the scriptures. Help the children focus and listen when scriptures are read.

Even young children can listen for a specific word or two as you read a verse".  More information on this teaching technique can be found in Teaching No Greater Call, p 55.  The section is "Teaching From the Scriptures: Use "Look for" and "Listen for" Approaches".  Having children focused on a specific idea as a scripture is read involves both the reader and the listener.  Before a scripture is read, ask the children to "Look for" or "Listen for" an answer to a question.  Younger children may be directed to listen for factual details while older children can look for conceptual or application connections.  

This "Look for" method of teaching from the scriptures can be used throughout Primary; during classes, sharing time gospel instruction, and sharing time music.  Engaging the students in the scriptures by asking "Look for" and "Listen for" questions will not only improve learning, but also teach children a life-long skill of looking for answers as they read the scriptures.  

One more scripture use tip:  Children, and many adults, have difficulty finding a scripture when only given the standard reference such as Deuteronomy 6:6-7.  Give enough information to make finding the scripture easy, especially the page number.  Example giving specific information and waiting until everyone is ready before the next direction is given:  

• Let's get the Bible and look in the Old Testament.  That is in the first part of the book. 
• Now let's look in Deuteronomy, chapter 6.  That is on page 263.  
• While you read verse 6 look for what should be in your heart.  . . .(discuss answer) 
• Now, turn the page and read verse 7 looking for who we should share this with. (Just in case you want to do it even easier while you are reading this post go to http://scriptures.lds.org/en/deut/6).  

With four standard works containing 87 books plus sections, chapters, declarations, introductions, title pages, study helps, etc. it is no wonder we feel fear when we hear the words, "Let's turn in the scriptures to . . . . ."

"Inviting children to learn from the scriptures will help them develop a lifelong love for the word of God.  Plan ways each week to invite the children to use and learn from their scriptures"  2010 Outline for Sharing Time, Introduction.

Toys for Nursery - Evaluate What You Have

Spring always brings on the urge to do a little cleaning and sorting.  Now would be a good time to review the toys in the Primary Nursery.  

 

Ask these questions:

• Is this toy appropriate for children ages 18 months through 3 years of age?
• Can it be washed and easily sanitized?
• Will it look clean after it is washed?
• Is it broken or missing parts?
• Does it have edges that are rough or sharp?
• Will a child want to throw this causing injury or disrupting other children's play? 
• Will using this toy encourage climbing (this is specifically prohibited in the guidelines of the nursery manual)? 
• Does it have small or loose parts that could be swallowed? 

Reduce clutter and confusion by:

• Limiting the number of toys available to the children each week
• Providing small bins or baskets to hold toys with multiple parts 
• Donating any excess toys to a local charity or by making them available at the next Relief Society meeting for families who can use them 

Storing the toys in closets and/or closed shelving will help keep the them sanitized and in good repair for use during nursery.   Remember to leave the room clean and uncluttered ready for other uses during the week. 

For tips on how the clean and sanitize toys check "How to Clean and Sanitize Toys" in a blog posted in October of 2009.

Help from the Friend - May 2010

Closing Exercises
     "Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice: My First Talk", p 2-3

Activity Days for All Children
     "Bringing the Book of Mormon to Life", p 18-20.  The video "How-To" is located at:  http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&sourceId=7050cf9b00a48210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=21bc9fbee98db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD 
     "Friends in the News: Five Oaks Ward", p 47
     "Guide to the Friend: Possible Ideas for Family Home Evening", p 48, #4


Activity Days for Girls, Scouting, My Gospel Standards, Articles of Faith
     "Modesty at Any Age", p 8-10
     "Bringing the Book of Mormon to Life", p 18-20.  The video "How-To" is located at:  http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&sourceId=7050cf9b00a48210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=21bc9fbee98db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
     "Sharing Time: Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel Lead Me to Jesus Christ", p 40-41


Primary 6:  Old Testament
     Lessons 18-21 - "Jehovah Gives Commandments", p 14-15
     Lesson 18 - "Coloring Page:  Moses Becomes a Prophet", p 46


Behold Your Little Ones
     Lesson 15 - "Count Your Blessings", p 34-35