Enhance emotional intelligence and empathy skills with this game, designed for 3 - 8 year olds. Each deck comes with 48 expressive feelings cards, 24 universal emotions, 3 educational games, and 5 therapy games. The game promotes emotion recognition, social intelligence, interpersonal awareness, and connection as well as models communication.
This “happy” light has been clinically proven to increase your energy and mood. Very effective light therapy to use during winter blues for those who struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), boosts energy and even assists with jet lag. This light is the same light sold through Dr. Neil Nedley’s Depression & Anxiety Recovery Program. It is as effective as 10,000 lux white lights, simulates being outdoors under a sunny blue sky, includes 5 light intensity settings, and has a 90 Day No Hassle Money Back Guarantee from Philips.
Having a play stand like this can spark innovative play for children. Use it as a shop, market place, or throw a blanket over the bottom and turn it into a puppet show. This set by Maisonette includes play food items, a tablet-style register, chalkboard signs for versatile play, and more.
See also Market Place Stand by KidKraft
Short on space? Try this over the chair model
Collapsable tents can make a great place for neutral play. Using imagination during sociodramatic play, the sky is the limit with these fun spaces.
Having a few role-play costumes on hand can inspire creative play for children. Here are some simple dress-up options that we love.
Chef coat and hat by Crate & Kids (personalization options)
Astronaut helmet & outfit / Construction worker / Firefighter / Pilot / Prairie Pioneer Dress / Scientist / Doctor
This kitchen by Maisonette is the exact model our girls were gifted with and love. I’ve not yet purchased from Maisonette; the girl’s kitchen was found at a local shop in Canada but you can also find a similar model here on Amazon.
PLAN toys birthday cake
IKEA pots and pans
Children will have hours of fun with this Melissa & Doug shopping cart. It’s realistic nature and sturdy frame will inspire many hours of open play.
Nurture your child’s sociodramatic play with baby doll accessories. This Pottery Barn Kids stroller is durable and very realistic. You can also choose the fabric for the stroller. Playing with baby dolls can also foster empathy through a child’s dramatic play.
This adorable Pottery Barn Kids vacuum is a replica mini version and actually sucks up debris.
Nurture your child’s sociodramatic play with this Pottery Barn Kids play cash register. It features an on/off button, solar-powered calculator and a real beeping sound.
Kids love to play make-believe. It’s a healthy way to communicate their thoughts and feelings. Children tend to process their experiential learning and stressors through play.
Baby dolls can often foster nurturing traits in children and facilitate empathy skills, as well as feeling expression.
Purchase (choose from a variety of ethnic dolls)
Hand puppets can be a wonderful tool to facilitate difficult discussions with young children or enhance play.
This set has puppets that represent a variety of diverse ethnicities.
Puppets can be used to help with problem-solving, introduce a cognitive behavior concept, practice emotional intelligence or encourage creative play.
