- Prepare your child for a new toy by describing different features as you and your child explore it, hand over hand—what it feels/sounds like, what to do to make it “work”, and what happens.
- Start with “single action” toys to develop your child’s understanding of cause/effect relationships—“When I push here, the block goes down the chute.”
- To minimize distractions, give your child only one or two toys at a time to play with. Simplify further by placing the toy on a solid-color cloth or blanket.
- If a toy has several pieces (e.g., a puzzle), lay them all out on the cloth.
- Provide lots of opportunities to practice.
- Show your child different ways to use a toy—there is no one “right” way!
Toys/Features to Look For
- Toys with single and then multiple control areas
- Features or toy areas that make the toy work are highlighted and obvious
- Toys of simple design with high-contrast colors and relevant reactions
- Toys with consistent reactions, and reactions that continue after the initial activation
- Toys that “label” words, pictures and objects
- Toys with realistic sounds and figures
Play Stages
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Experience Stage: Using senses to explore a toy
There is a lot to discover with this fishbowl. All you need to do is give it a push to make it rock, yet it will stay upright. Lights, music, swimming fish and bubbly sounds respond to each of your child’s movements. And the lights stay on for a while after your child pushes it, leaving time for your child to understand what happens each time the bowl is pushed. The clear sides encourage your child to put the balls in and take them out over and over again. Every time something goes into the fishbowl—including a hand—the sounds and lights begin again!
Click here to find out what you can do to help your child play and learn with this toy.
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Discovery Stage: The toy guides your child's play
Barnyard sounds bring this classic toy to life as it introduces your child to farms and farm animals. Imitating animal sounds (something children love to do!) and moving the pieces around the barnyard engages children of all abilities. Realistic figures, sounds and the "Old MacDonald" tune associate the toy with books, videos and other experiences. In addition to the farmer and his animals, there’s a food bin to feed and water the animals, a workbench with more sounds to identify, and more.
Click here to find out what you can do to help your child play and learn with this toy.
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Expanding Imagination Stage: Finding even more ways to play with a toy
PowerTouch™ books provide a way for children to interact with words and pictures on the page of a book just by pointing with a finger! Simply touch a picture or word on the page to hear words spoken or the pictures respond with sounds and descriptions. Your child can interact directly with the story, as well as with games and other activities with each book. Another great feature … the system automatically “knows” what page your child has turned to!
Click here to find out what you can do to help your child play and learn with this toy.
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Expanding Imagination Stage 2: Finding even more ways to play with a toy
Adding color to Pixter has made it more interesting to use; the backlit screen and vivid colors will help hold your child’s attention. This hand-held creativity device is perfect for “on-the-go” families and provides a variety of activities from drawing and stamping to completing dot-to-dot pictures—all with sound effects. To use it, your child simply touches the screen with the pen or directly with a finger. You can add more themes with a variety of “software” cartridges (sold separately).
Click here to find out what you can do to help your child play and learn with this toy.
