All too often parents, teachers and society restrict a child's inbuilt urges of self expression, inquiry and creativity. As an antidote to this (because we soon see the results of that blocking) we then try to compensate by forcing stimulation upon them at times which suit us better. The result is a habitual schizophrenic kind of energy and awareness. Many people go full-on for half a day, then zonk out in front of a TV for the other. Others work like maniacs for 5 or 6 days a week and then crash like slobs for the weekend. Children soon notice such energy patterns in their mentors, and then quickly conform to it in their own childish ways.
   From the very beginning, we project upon children this repression and stimulation syndrome, and this frequently manifests in the acquisition of a child's early toys, something which then builds into grown adults (men particularly!) who want more and bigger and brighter and faster toys to fill their garages and backyards. In short, addiction to over-stimulation (as well as materialism) begins in the crib.
   Baby toys and toy shops are a massive mar-keting con into which parents can very easily fall. Through relentless advertising and a relentlessly pleading child, many parents feel guilty if vast amounts of money have not been spent procuring all the currently trendy toys, not to mention the so-called developmentally sound toys. Doting grandparents can also be keen to indulge the little ones in ways they were not able to do for their own children.
   What is needed, is a more gentle, less com-mercial introduction to toys coupled with a simplicity and creativity in self expression. In their early life, a child needs to be taught that they will not be bought even 1% of the bright things in the shops which take their fancy. They should understand and trust early on that their parents will provide for them what they need and what will enhance their growth of mind and body, and not just provide things which simply entertain and stimulate.
   Tolerance of so-called boredom, motivation towards self-occupying creative play, and non-attachment to bought things are mindsets which need to be instilled very early on. We buy children things so early in their life. From this they soon learn that most things in their life come from shops and they quickly grow up thinking that only a bought thing has any value; that only bought things are exciting; that only bought things are truly creative; that only bought things will keep up with the Joneses. Instead of wasting money on toys (so many of which just end up broken and forgotten as the next fad comes in) help your child to look

around their environment for already existing playthings. Nature has provided so many things which, with a little imagination, can easily be made into satisfying toys. And if you do need to buy things to provide interesting raw materials, explore the craft shops, the art supplies shops or the secondhand shops for cheap and interesting things to repair and restore.
   The first "object" a baby responds to is the human face, so all he needs to look at for 2 months is a range of facial expressions from those who are nearest and dearest to him. It is human interaction which will evolve and enliven him the most. But so often parents believe they must provide lots of jingling, rattling, dingley-dangley, bits and bobs hanging over the baby's crib to "stimulate" them when they are "bored", or to distract them when they are irritated.
   But really, this is a senseless idea. A young baby's eyes and mind are perfectly happy with the soft and diffuse imagery of the world they see around them beyond their arms length, and within it - that is their own hands.
   On top of being safe, a child's toys, and particularly a baby's first toys, should always be appropriate to their depth and breadth of sensory development. For example, what good is a whole rainbow of bright looking toys if they are all hard and slippery, acrylic smelling plastic? Try to provide a wide range of tactile experiences they can choose from and learn from including interesting smelling, tasting and hearing toys. For babies, things made out of different cloth, felt, wool, can all be made by anyone who can use scissors, needle and thread. Basic wooden toys like blocks are easily made with a small saw, some glue and non-toxic paint or food dyes. Older children, who have learned what not to put in their mouth, enjoy things made of gumnuts, sticks, seeds, rocks, clay, paper, cardboard, shells, vines, leaves, timber, beads, string, even vegetables! You don't have to be a great artist or craftsperson to provide these things, only willing to find the creativity and spend the time.
   Once crawling, a baby will find more things than you can imagine in the garden and around your home to play with. They often find far more pleasure in things that they find and create, than in things they are bought and given. Therefore invest your money in multiple use objects, transformable things which are durable and can be recycled time and again. When crawling, climbing and toddling become their intent, encourage plenty of creative and challenging outdoor activity by hanging swings and rope