As I’ve been thinking through getting my house ready to welcome a child, I’ve been thinking about the small touches that really make a child feel welcome. The top two things on my list? Books and toys.
I’m planning a whole bookshelf of great children’s books, but I also wanted to have some that deal with adoption and foster care. I found a great website with lists of children’s books that do just that. I’ll be ordering as many as I can and will give full book reviews then, but for now this is a great resource to check out.
Toy-wise, I’m picky. I prefer simple toys that encourage imagination and play over toys that do all the work for you. For example, I’d rather make pirate hats out of newspaper than buy pirate hats at a party store. Occasionally, I come across toys that are somewhat “gimmicky” but totally worth it. Every time I go to Central Market (a grocery store here in Austin), I walk past a display of these awesome plush toys called Kimochis that come with labeled feelings. I know that sounds like the most hippie toy ever, but honestly I almost buy one every time. They are soft and adorable, and I absolutely love the idea of having a safe, snuggly toy to help your child communicate how he or she is feeling. One mom reported that her child would put the “cranky” feeling in the Kimochi and put it outside his door when he needed some break time. Another mom wrote that her daughter picks three feelings each night at bedtime and they talk about things that happened during the day that brought up those three feelings. I love that.
More recs to come in the weeks ahead!
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