From Parenting.com by Anita Sethi, Ph.D.I wish I liked shopping for toddler playthings, but the sheer number of dolls, balls, and gadgets makes me feel adrift and confused. Next time, I'm bringing this list from Marlo White, a pediatric occupational therapist in Ardsley, NY.
1. Large blocks. So obvious that they often get overlooked, blocks help your child learn to use both hands to complete a task and strengthen his fingers as he tries to stack the blocks, says White. Most 13-month-olds can put one block on top of another.
2. Shape sorter. Pediatricians always wear stethoscopes; occupational therapists are never without shape sorters. These toys teach toddlers to match a shape with its corresponding hole and demonstrate cause and effect when the shape is dropped into the bucket.
3. Large-piece puzzles. Start on puzzles with simple shapes (circle or square, for example) that easily fit in whether right side up or upside down. Then move on to ones with cutout pieces that can only fit in one way (like a cat or dog). Puzzles foster knowledge about shape matching as well as in and out.
4. Push toy. "Toddlers can move faster with push toys because of the support, which is fun for them," says White. "And since many of these toys play music or have other features, your child learns to concentrate on walking even when distracted by exciting things." Who knew a bubble-blowing lawn mower offered so much?
1 comment:
My daughter will be ten months next week and the toys listed in the article are her absolute favourites. She is not walking yet so obviously she is not into the push toys. But she does love to sit on the floor and push/throw a ball back and forth with me. She got tired of her infant toys around 7 months and cannot master all skills necessary with toddler toys but certainly enjoys them. I think as parents you need to assess the toys to determine whether they are suitable for you child, don't just go by the packaging. For example, she loves wooden puzzles and can't put the pieces back but she sure has fun pulling them out. I think even this skill is important as it works her pincer skill and she will probably move on to putting the pieces in sooner than later. Often puzzles are listed for 2,3 and even 4 year olds. Challenge your kids with their toys, your instinct will tell you if it is appropriate for them.
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