It all started with a cowboy hat and boots. We wanted a family picture out in the desert and Xander, only 2 at the time, was supposed to wear his boots and hat to complete the look of our yearly extended family picture snapshot.
The problem: he refused to wear the hat and boots. Those of you with two year olds know full well that convincing a crying toddler to do anything is a wasted effort if a smile and cheery disposition is a desired end result. I had a month to convince this little guy to not only wear that hat and boots, but like it too! I needed to outwit him. So I put on my thinking cap and set up my first little themed unit study. Anyone who has been around here long enough knows that I love to plan our learning adventures around themes. Learning about interesting things while incorporating basic skills is such an enjoyable way to learn. So I went on a hunt and checked out a few books on cowboys. We ate beans and {tube}steak, used our playsilks to create a camp fire and then sat around singing cowboy songs. He had a stick horse and asked me to ride the hockey stick so we could round up cattle together. By the time family pictures rolled around, that little boy was excited to don his outfit. Family pictures were a success! He had also acquired a great new vocabulary, dove full-throttle into the realm of pretend play and was hard at work on both his gross and fine motor skills. It was magical.
And what works for toddlers, is actually surprisingly effective with older kids as well. Engage the imagination and they’ll want to learn more, play more, and experience more. The wild west, ranching and cowboys have come up a few times in our learning adventures, so I thought I’d share some of my top picks for this Wild West themed gift guide.
What’s needed for your child who wants to tame the wild west?
I’ve found that a hat, toy pistol, stick horse are essential. Cowboy boots and spurs are an added bonus.
Cowboy Hat for Toddler/Preschooler or this hat for older kids – After 3 boys, I’m here to tell you that cowboy hats are the bomb. My 6 year old third born still jams on that hat that his oldest brother received 8 years ago. Find a good hat with some room to grow into and you’ve found a good thing!
Cowboy Boots – My recommendation is to buy a couple of sizes up. If they are just using it for play this will extend how long they can wear them. My kids also have more narrow feet, but I prefer boots that are wider, so I’d also recommend ordering the wide boot style.
Spurs – A huge bonus. We bought these for our middle son one Christmas and they were a huge hit!
Wooden Stick Horse – We’ve had our set of three wooden stick horses for several years now and they are one of the most played with items in our home. After going through several plush stick horses, we hit the jackpot with these. They are easy to wipe clean and are virtually indestructible. Since my boys were pretty young when they received these for Christmas (the one that sparked the year of Crockett Fever), I was a little worried that they might turn into weapons, but it is one of the few things that has never been used as such. This staple will spur your kids into many adventures in the Wild West!
Pistol Toys w/ Holsters – We’ve found with these that you get what you pay for. The cheap all-plastic pistols break within a week, sometimes sooner. Oftentimes the holster wears out first, but duck tape works wonders to extend their life.
If you are looking for a high quality all leather double holster belt, I recommend this one along with 2 of these metal die-cast cap guns or this metal die-cast cap gun with holster or this or this one. The belts aren’t the greatest and the holster will need to be duck-taped together if they play obsessively with them like my kids have, but the guns are higher quality.
Wild West on Film
Roy Rogers – My boys love this DVD set. They love the excitement and adventure. I love the inspiring moral values that are portrayed which are almost entirely absent in anything being produced today.
The Lone Ranger (original, not the new movie)
Wagon Train – such an inspiring old TV show that has good family values and beautifully incorporates faith elements. It’s a little pricey, so maybe checking netflix or your library for this might be a better option.
Books about Cowboys
Cowboy Small
The Brave Cowboy – As a lover of kid imagination, this book not only entertains young boys but inspires parents as well to encourage the imagination.
Why Cowboys Sleep With Their Boots On
Armadillo Rodeo
The Gingerbread Cowboy
Cowboys – This beautiful book gives a beautiful glimpse into the life of a cowboy. Up the learning value by checking this one out.
I Want To Be A Cowboy – A photographic peek into the life of a modern day cowboy.
Cowboys and Cowgirls: YippeeYay!
Read More:
It’s the Wild West < our cowboy themed gift for Treyton’s birthday
When my boys were younger the wanted to watch Roy Rogers 24/7 🙂
Yep. That sounds normal! 🙂
Love the cowboy theme! All of my boys have loved wearing boots and still do. Makes this mama’s heart smile every time.