As a little girl, I remember curling up in front of
the fire with my brown-haired, pink-lipped Madame Alexander doll, Lucy, in one arm and the Sears Christmas catalog in the
other. My hair was probably wound tightly in pink curlers and I was
likely wearing some type of flannel pajamas. I’m sure I was draped with my
tattered blanket and my blue pillow was tucked somewhere nearby. A parent or
sibling was surely within earshot, as I often squealed in delight and shouted
with glee with each turn of the silky printed page.
Christmastime was my favorite. I loved dog-earing the
pages (don’t tell Mrs. Hudson, my elementary librarian) and circling (certainly
don’t make her privy to that part) the items perfectly perfect for all of my
people. I’ve always loved the hunt for the just right gift.
As Baker’s birthday draws near, and as he is one of my most
very favorite people, I delight in scouring books and Internet sites, talking
to his teachers and therapists, and determining the perfectly perfect gifts for
him.
It’s hard to believe he’s almost three.
The more I research, and the more I learn; the
more I observe, and the more I inquire, the more I realize he wants what every almost three year old
wants. He desires what every almost three year old desires.
He desires play.
He desires unhindered, all out, hurt your belly
laughing, get the hiccups for days, make you bust a move, pink cheeked fun.
Here are some things I know. Baker has Down Syndrome.
He has different abilities. Baker is a boy. He is wild. He is a toddler. He
loves life. Baker is silly. He loves to play and have fun. He is mine.
But that’s way out of order.
Here’s how it really goes.
Baker is mine.
He is a wild and silly almost three year old boy who
happens to have Down Syndrome.
Some of his abilities are different, but that
doesn’t change his love for life, for play, for fun.
In fact, I think it allows him to love them more.
When I shop for a gift, or look for the perfect toy for my boy, I
go to Target.
Or Amazon.
Toys 'R Us is our jam.
And don’t even get me started on
the lovefest I have with consignment sales.
We go to the museum and zoo
together.
We order the same Starbucks delicacy and read the same books off of the
shelves and then are distracted by the same train table at the same Barnes and
Noble.
Baker is like any other child, he has just been blessed with a little something extra.
For
that reason, sometimes, unbeknownst to him, our play is purposeful.
He doesn’t
know we’re doing anything any differently.
And by simply watching, you probably
wouldn’t either.
When I think about buying for Baker, I use a real
scientific method. It’s fourfold.
First.
I rate its fun factor. If it’s not fun, it
doesn’t matter how practical or skill-building or purposeful it is. If it isn’t
fun, it is not coming to our house.
Second.
I test its durability. Seriously. He’s almost
three. And “childproof” has proven time and again not to be Bakerproof. I
have already put a call in to a few key distributors, as he would be a
phenomenal product tester. I kid you not. The kid can unscrew the unscrewable,
break the unbreakable. If it cannot withstand the strength of mine, it can stay
on the shelf.
Third.
I consider the price. Children are children.
They break things. They lose things. They learn how to unroll the car windows
and throw things out of a moving vehicle only to be squished to smithereens by
another traveler on I-459. They become disinterested. They feed their toys to
the Golden Retriever in the backyard whose stomach is the Bermuda Triangle.
Fourth.
I assess its ability to
progress his mental, physical, or emotional growth. Some things we buy, don’t.
But most toys, especially if you get creative, can be used to enhance a child’s
development.
These are some of my favorites for my favorite almost
three year old.
Click on picture for additional information or to purchase for your favorite almost three year old.
"Buster" Buckle Toy
CanDo Thera Putty
Crayola Washable Sidewalk Chalk
Fisher Price Doctor Kit
Melissa and Doug Farm Friends Puppets
and every puppet needs a stage
Melissa and Doug Tabletop Puppet Stage
Find Me Lap Pad
Fubbles Bubbles
Hopper
KidKraft Vintage Kitchen
and if you give a three year old a kitchen,
he's gonna want some pizza to cook
Melissa and Doug Pizza Party
MagnaTiles
My Quiet Book
JC Newborn Baby
Trampoline and Enclosure
Radio Flyer Tricycle
Velcro Ball and Mitt Set
Happy almost birthday to my favorite almost three year old.
I love you to the moon and back.
I love you to the moon and back.
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