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How do kids use a Bilibo?
Open ended play is play without boundaries, play without rules. And it is so important to a child's early years development, allowing them the space and opportunity to choose what they play with, and how they use it. Expressing themselves in their own way, they'll no doubt find more creativity during free play where their imagination is allowed to run free!
In a digital world, it can be challenging to find toys that engage children's imagination and promote active, open-ended play. We're conscious to include plenty of toys that satisfy these needs and with it's simple yet ingenious design, are so impressed with what the Bilibo from Moluk has to offer. Bilibo encourages children to tap into their creative side and to explore endless possibilities, and this versatile toy is a real winner in our eyes!
So, what is Bilibo?
The Bilibo is a unique toy created by the Swiss company Moluk. A simple shell shape by design, that allows children to sit, spin, rock, balance, hide, or even wear it as a helmet. Made from durable, non-toxic materials, Bilibo is suitable for children of all ages, from toddlers to older kids.
Promoting Physical Development:
Toys that support larger muscle movements; climbing, jumping, running and balance, all help to develop gross motor skills, and the Bilibo offers a range of physical activities that help to promote this. Some ideas include:
1) Spinning Top: Children can sit inside the Bilibo and use their legs to spin themselves around, improving balance, coordination, and core strength.
2) Rocking Boat: Placing the Bilibo upside down allows children to rock back and forth, stimulating their vestibular system and enhancing their sense of balance.
3) Stepping Stone: In a similar concept to the Stapelstein stepping stones, you can line up multiple Bilibo shells and challenge children to hop from one to another, developing their agility and coordination.
Encouraging Imaginative Play:
The Bilibo is a versatile prop that can be added to any play space, that transforms into anything children can imagine, for example:
1) Magical Creatures: Let children transform Bilibo into a magical creature by adding stickers, fabric, or drawing eyes and wings. The open-ended design of Bilibo allows children to become anything they want, from a turtle to a spaceship.
2) Sensory Exploration: Incorporating sensory play is fundamental to development, as children learn best when their senses are engaged. Fill Bilibo with sand, water, loose part play pieces, beads, or pasta. This sensory experience encourages children to explore textures, sounds, and colours while engaging their imagination.
Cognitive Development:
By challenging children's problem-solving skills and spatial awareness, Bilibo also supports cognitive development. Some play examples include:
1) Sorting and Stacking: If you have mulitiple Bilibo at home, the shells can be sorted by colour, size, or even function. Children can stack them to create structures, fostering logical thinking and spatial reasoning.
2) Storytelling: Bilibo can serve as a storytelling prop. Encourage children to create imaginative stories involving Bilibo and its various uses, enhancing their language skills and narrative abilities.
The best thing about the Bilibo however is that you really don't need to do anything to encourage play and engagement - try it, pop it in the room and watch your children discover it. They will interact with it in their own way, and this is the real beauty of this versatile and open-ended play toy.
At just £28, the Bilibo by Moluk is a great choice, and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Available in a range of colours, which will you choose?
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Laura Davies is the founder of the The Kid Collective, the ultimate shopping destination for toys that support learning through play. Everything is consciously selected with the benefits of play in mind, ensuring that each toy inspires growth in children, for today and tomorrow. When it comes to play, we know what matters.