Old cell phones make wonderful toys for toddlers and they are very easy to find.
My toddler's favorite pretend play activity is talking on the phone. He has a huge variety of phones to choose from. Over the years we've purchased several toy phones that make noises and play music. More often than not though he chooses the old, discarded cell phones that we have given him to play with. They make great toys and they are very easy to find even if you have not kept your old cell phones. Generally there are no small pieces and they are easy to sanitize. Many thrift shops will have a selection of old cell phones that can be purchased for only a few dollars. Family and friends may have their own collection that they would be more than happy to pass on to a favorite toddler.
While there are many cute and colorful toy cell phones available, toddlers often enjoy having a phone that looks like mom or dad's. Because old cell phones do not make the noises or have the flashing lights that many of the toy cell phones offer, toddlers are encouraged to use their own imagination as they play. They can have phone conversations with family members that they miss such as grandparents or fathers while they are away at work. Toddlers love playing with phones of any sort and it is a wonderful activity for encouraging them to use their imagination and allows them to mimmick the actions of the people they love.
