Toys to encourage physical development such as cruising and walking
Why your baby will enjoy this toy now:
A toy with progressive challenges—from simple activities to more complex ones—rewards increasing abilities while keeping frustration at a minimum. Multiple activity levels also help develop motor skills while encouraging and rewarding baby’s achievements.
What you can do to help your baby learn more with:
"Colours, shapes, top and bottom, in and out, on top and underneath" … these toys are full of things to talk about and label, and concepts for you to introduce to baby. Point out your reflections in a mirror, dance to the music or see what surprise is under a peek-a-boo feature.
"Where did it go?" At this stage, your child is ripe for grasping the concept of object permanence. Talk about the fact that objects out of sight can come back intoview, and demonstrate by hiding a toy and asking, "Where did it go?" Then reveal the toy and say, "Oh, there it is!" Soon, your baby will realise this concept outside of play, recognizing that you will come back and anticipating your return.
Sharpen baby’s tactile perception skills by pointing out the toy’s different textures. Encourage exploration by gently placing your baby’s fingers on the different textures, saying "Does this feel bumpy?" As always, take every opportunity to reinforce language learning by applying words to experiences.
Exercise baby’s visual perception in a similar way by pointing out the different visual patterns on the toy.
The idea of imitation is just starting to take root—baby sees you do something and then tries to mimic what you’ve done. A role-play toy or familiar prop from baby’s real-life world inspires pretend play and enhances imagination; it can even boost language development and self confidence as baby realises he can do things, too!
What you can do to help your baby learn more with:
Give baby a "taste" of real kitchen equipment. Set out plastic cups and bowls and let her stack and sort to her heart’s delight. Add a spoon into the mix and she’ll make music for you, too!
Sing along with baby’s musical toys. Once she hears you, she’ll want to join in!
When baby plays with his toy, let him see you using its "real-world" counterpart. Spoon sugar into a bowl, measure something with a ruler – and watch your child make the connection between his toy and your tool!
As you go about your day, reinforce baby’s understanding of shapes. "Look at your plate – it’s a circle, too!"
Encouraging your baby to try things again and again can help his increase attention span. "Can you tap some more?" "Let’s see if we can hear the ABC song one more time."
Reinforce baby’s accomplishments. "Great job! You got the square in the right spot!"
All children develop at their own pace, and reach milestones at different times. The highlights mentioned in this web site are meant as approximate guidelines only. If you have any questions about your child's development, consult your healthcare provider.
