My kids never play with their toys but I keep seeing things about kids learn through play

[IFionlyhadbrains]

My kids must be really thick They just don't play with any of their toys. Their GP's said they didn't have toys back in the dark ages it was all make believe play and running about.

Aibu to chuck it all out? We have pretty good storage so it's not cluttered, but I've tried open shelves Montessori style filled with dust covered wooden toys and didn't seem keen.

What do they do instead?

How old are they? What to they do instead?

How old are they? My 2 and a half year old spends a lot of time putting things in bags and carrying them around and playing with her clothes, putting them on and off, putting them.in bags etc. Doesn't have to be toys

Play doesn’t have to involve toys. Children just need their imaginations.

My son is the same, he’s 5
His sister is the opposite - schleich horses and stables everywhere...

My son - he wants to chat. He wants to garden if I’m gardening, he wants me to tell him about what I’m reading. He wants to chat about the newspaper photos. He plays with his Rubex cube though! He is far more likely to decide to ‘help’ with something and be found down the bottom of the garden with scissors and the hose, attempting to create a sprinkler

Whereas his sister has those building blocks out every single day. Just not his thing, but he’s very engaged.

Not throwing why bring out though. Never know, he might get interested?!

He also loves snakes and ladders, anything that’s interactive with others really. Is your son similar?

They are 5 and 18 months. One goes to school, then homework, we walk, gardening like watering and seeds, grow your own, watch Tv, dance to music ( kitchen disco), reading, I read to them, colouring, drawing, not particularly crafts, sometimes stickers or stamping or painting, they bumble around, football, we've started some baby classes again.

If I say let get the Duplo out then I just seem to be doing by myself

How old are they and are they playing but just not with toys. Some toys are quite restrictive compared to a stick or cardboard box.

I think when they day 'through play' they mean things like pretending to sell ice creams from a pretend ice cream van thats really a park bemch and accidently learning about money in the process.

Children do learn through play, but they don’t have to play with toys. “They bumble around” - that’s the play where they are learning the most, I bet.

Sorry. Typos - not *throwing anything out yet though

It’s not just “they learn maths through playing pretend shops”, although I’m sure there is an element of that, it’s learning turn taking, story telling, compromise with others, imagination, independence, developing motor skills, etc.

@MildredPuppy

How old are they and are they playing but just not with toys. Some toys are quite restrictive compared to a stick or cardboard box. I think when they day 'through play' they mean things like pretending to sell ice creams from a pretend ice cream van thats really a park bemch and accidently learning about money in the process.

The 5 yo always pretends to sell ice creams from the den bits on the climbing frames. Maybe they aren't thick as I first thought.

I just loved making up games with all my figure and toys when I wa a little. I didn't have much, one my little pony, one Sindy Barbie to too pricey and a few bits like little animal ornaments from crackers. Maybe I was a bit older, and my parents never did anything apart from watch tv so there was no other entertainment.

It's maybe a bit unusual a 5yo not playing with toys. 18mo I wouldn't really expect to be playing with toys that much unless you're actively doing it with them.
If you start off a game with 5yo's toys will he continue it himself so you can then get on with something else?

It doesn’t mean learning through play specifically with toys. It’s any and all play.

That all sounds fine OP.

Mine love sticks and boxes.
DS2 some figurines
DS1 lego and trainset although less so with age.

We seem to have gained vast amounts over the years (hand me downs, parties, family) that were played with just enougn to be used for 10 mins then left out everywhere.

They still play even if not with toys and the toys may make an appearance in the future.

Lots of children enjoy bits of cardboard and use their imagination.

@IFionlyhadbrains - see you have a maths and social skills genuis who is creative

@IFionlyhadbrains I cannot comment on your 5 year old as mine only turned 2 but what about shape sorters for the 18 months old, stacking cups, stacking rings, a car ramp, hammer bench, musical instruments?

As others have said, they do learn through play but it doesn’t have to be with toys. Give a child a cardboard box and they’ll honestly have a whale of a time . My DD’s (almost 9 and 10) were still playing with cardboard boxes a few months ago tbh, they turned it into a fort!

How old are they? Don’t throw the toys away.

Put screens away and leave out books and toys. Sit on the floor and read to them and play with them- see if that triggers them playing more.

Toddlers play according to the schema they are in. You have to follow their lead.
The older one seems to be playing pretty well.
Toys for that are designed to get parents to buy them, which doesn’t always mean that they are good for actually playing with.

I don't know, mine were naturally drawn to toys as going to our local toy shops could be the highlight of their day!

I know it's being ridiculed on MN, but mine were not allowed tv or screen unless they were ill and until they started school. As their time at home was their "free play" while I got on with chores and things, they occupied themselves with toys - or toddler emptying cupboards, drawers, playing with peg box...anything they felt like doing

If you spend so much time entertaining them and they clearly have fun, I wouldn't worry too much about, it's not like they are sitting down staring at a wall!

I think it's very individual. My 5yo mostly plays with lego and puzzles at the moment. He also does a lot of drawing and reading.

He will play with the duplo and cars if we get them out for the 2yo but won't request them specifically. 2yo (nearly 3) loves small world and puzzles (esp alphabet and number puzzles)

Children learn though play, yes - they learn to mimic social roles through imaginary play and role play games. Toys aren't necessary to facilitate this, although sometimes they can help e.g. pretend shops, money, baby dolls etc.

Other toys can be educational in terms of learning about the world, but it really depends on what your children are interested in. Some children will love toy cars, others will prefer plastic animals. There's no one size fits all.

Plenty of children love running around outside, messing about with sand and mud, reading or looking at the pictures in books, investigating insects or climbing trees.

Children will pursue their own interests so I wouldn't worry too much. The things your children are doing already sounds great. I expect when your littlest gets a bit older they will play together more in a child-led way.

@apooagnuandyou mine is too and never really has any screen time unless something is going on. We should parent they the way we want without any judgement. X

I wouldn’t throw them out, that’s just a waste.

I have 3 DCs, they all played with different toys at different stages. There are some toys my older 2 didn’t touch but my youngest plays with all the time.

All 3 of mine will happily play with cardboard boxes, make dens. One of them has a collection of rocks she plays with and talks too.

Are the toys out in plain view, that definitely makes a difference as it’s very much out of sight out of mind for mine.