Extraordinary Play With Ordinary Things: Make-It-Yourself, Do-It-Yourself Activities That Encourage Your Child's Development [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Barbara Sher (Author), Janet Young (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1994 | ISBN-10: 1558504060 | ISBN-13: 978-1558504066

Make-it-yourself, do-it-yourself activities that encourage your child's development and needs only materials found around the house like newspapers, milk cartons, cans and mismatched socks. 700 very fun activities for children 2-11 that help build motor skills and encourage cooperation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is definitely the book to have around when the "I don't have anything to do" whinnies hits. I am not exaggerating when I say that the book is packed with great ideas. -- PurseStrings

About the Author

Barbara Sher is an occupational therapist in pediatrics for over 25 years. She gives workshops nationally and internationally for teachers, parents and caregivers on fun movement games that teach academic skills and promote motor skills. Also workshops on making learning toys out of throw-aways and recyclables. Some of the countries where she has given workshops are Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Micronesia,Figi, Nicaragua and Honduras

Product Details

• Paperback: 308 pages
• Publisher: Adams Media Corp (December 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558504060
• ISBN-13: 978-1558504066
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,984,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Birthday Party or Boredom resource book!, April 20, 2001

By 

chrisdono (Billerica, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Extraordinary Play With Ordinary Things: Make-It-Yourself, Do-It-Yourself Activities That Encourage Your Child's Development (Paperback)

I've used this book a lot! We've come up with great birthday party activities from this-- or rainy-day boredom busters. One 4-yr-old child who had just had a $400 chuck-e-cheese birthday asked if she could have her party in my back yard next year! The obstacle course suggestions alone are worth buying this book. This book will educate you to look at your recycables in a new way. After reading this-- my own ideas flourished as well. In fact, every item in your house will start to reveal it's play possibilities to you. Anyone who has watched a kid play with a cardboard box or tube for hours will appreciate this book. Some of the things we have made from recyclables and found objects have been played with more than most other toys in our house.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The product description above is incorrect--this book is for all ages, February 14, 2009

By 

barbara sher (saipan, northern mariana islands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Extraordinary Play with Ordinary Things (Homegrown) (Paperback)

Extraordinary Play is divided into chapters depending upon which materials you have handy. Got mismatched socks? There's plenty of games to enhance children's eye-hand coordination, balance and many other motor skills. Got cardboard boxes--string? paper bag? There are plenty of games for any materials and an appendix in the back telling you which games help which skills. But from a kids point of view, the games are just plain fun. As an occupational therapist who has played these games with kids in many many countries, I can promise you and yours will be grinning!
Barbara Sher (author)