Stages of Play Development - Baby Activities & Toys



She may be able to walk if you hold both of her hands. She can perceive depth and if she crawls, does not attempt to go down steps head first. She begins to look for things that she drops. She responds to one or two commands. She begins to anticipate and remember: when the refrigerator opens, baby expects food; when you grab your purse, baby expects you're going out. She may know when the surprise happens in a song. She pokes, prods, and explores with her hands. She peeps around corners and loves to play peek-a-boo. She imitates more, watching and copying actions. She begins to show a preference for the sounds she hears in the language(s) spoken around her.



Toys to encourage physical development, such as cruising and walking Toys to encourage early learning Sports-themed toys that encourage physical development Early role-play toys Large balls with holes or ridges for grasping Link-together toys



Laugh & Learn™ Shop and Learn Walker	Little Superstar™ 2-in-1 Singing Band Walker™

“Colors, 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 realize 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.



Laugh & Learn™ Fun With Friends™ Musical Table	Laugh & Learn™ Peek-a-Boo Cuckoo™

Toys like these expose your child to the basic building blocks of learning … simple concepts like letters, numbers, shapes and colors. Use these concepts as points of discussion and play with your child, extending them to other parts of baby’s world to help them make more sense. “That’s the number five. Jane is 5 years old.”
If the toy moves, pass it back and forth to each other to introduce the concept of interaction and cooperation. “I’ll push it to you, then you push it back to me.”
Add interest by playing letter or number games. Pick a letter and find something in the room that begins with that letter. Say the name of the letter and the name of the item out loud for baby: “That’s a d. D is for Daddy.” You’re extending his learning, but you don’t need to be concerned about teaching the actual letters or numbers at this age.



Go Baby Go!™ Tippin’ Tiger™ Ball Toss	Brilliant Basics™ Dunk ’n Cheer™ Basketball

To encourage your child’s eye-hand coordination, try playing a simple ball game like basketball. Hold the ball in front of baby and encourage her to tap it out of your hand, put it in a hoop or drop it down a chute. This will help baby understand the idea of cause-and-effect.
When baby’s sitting up to play, encourage balance, coordination and interaction by sitting opposite each other, with baby’s legs in a V and rolling the ball back and forth.
When baby is either walking or able to crawl very well, take turns being the catcher and thrower, or the player and the retriever. Introduce the concept of an interactive “team” game by placing the ball back in baby’s hands or lap so it’s easy for her to make the connection.



Laugh & Learn™ My Learning Tools™	Laugh & Learn™ Say Please™ Tea Set	Laugh & Learn™ My Pretty Learning Purse™

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 increase his 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.

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