Posts Tagged gross motor skills
Stages of Developmental Toys
Posted by in Babies on October 4th, 2009
Lots of toys are designed with child development in mind. But, do you know how to choose the ones that are developmentally appropriate? You probably have a general idea, based on your knowledge of your child’s developmental level. But, you can use this guide to be sure that you are not missing the opportunity to identify and nourish a critical stage of your child’s development.
1) To encourage the first stages of development, remember to focus on visual, social, touch, sound and smell. Newborns can focus best eight to twelve inches away from their faces. It is easy to hit all of the areas of development if you just talk to your baby. Give the baby plenty of gazing time to focus on your expression. Let them learn to recognize the sound of your voice and the smell of your skin. Avoid perfumes and scented soaps. Skin can be very sensitive, so gently let your baby feel soft objects only during the first three months.
2) By three months of age, a baby should be developing some social skills and some hand-eye coordination. This is a good age to start encouraging your baby to play with soft toys. Babies also love to study themselves in the mirror at this age. They should be able to imitate some facial expressions and movements. You can encourage hand-eye coordination by wearing a nursing necklace during feeding times, giving the child a target to focus on grabbing and manipulating while they are relaxed and content. Start working on gross motor skills by letting your baby stand with help in your lap. Developmental toys would include ones that are activated by swiping or kicking.
3) At seven months, your baby can most likely roll, sit and stand with help. The brain is developing very quickly and you will notice more problem solving skills emerge. For example, children around this age will figure out that they can move objects from one hand to the other if they need to hold on to something. Encourage these cognitive skills by purposely offering desired object to the child, one after another, all from the same side. Hide objects to see if your child can find them. Bouncy seats, assisted walking and jumping in your lap are appropriate gross motor skill activities.
4) By one year of age, your baby will understand facial expressions, tones of voice, have verbal responses to let you know how they feel, and many other skills. One year olds will be learning to walk, run, climb and jump. They will also be learning to speak and solve more complex problems. This is a good age to introduce puzzles, learning toys, and preschool toys without small parts. An activity table will encourage your child to develop some fine motor skills. Pincher motions are important to focus on at this age.
If you have questions concerning your child’s development, talk with your pediatrician.
About the Author: Jim Ford is the President of KinderMark, a family owned and managed business which sells waiting room toys and waiting room furniture used in doctor’s offices, hospitals, auto dealers, dentists offices and libraries. Preschool toys such as an activity table and learning toys are favorites for pediatric offices. For more information, visit www.kindermark.
Article Source: Stages of Developmental Toys
Learning Activities for Toddlers
Posted by in Babies on October 4th, 2009
Are you looking for ways to keep your busy toddler occupied? Play time can easily become learning time with a little creative thinking. The best way to entertain and teach your toddler daily is to use things around the house. This helps to build imagination and encourages creativity while you spend quality time together. Sometimes you can even get some things done around the house and your toddler will only think that you are playing.
Small children love to imitate and copy adults. Get down on the floor and pretend to be an animal. Crawl around like a lion, hop like a rabbit, or stretch like a cat. Get your child to copy you and imitate animal sounds. Talk about what that animal might normally do. Ask questions like, “How do you think a horse sleeps?” and “What in the kitchen would a bear eat?” Go around the house and talk about how different animals live. Where they take baths, where they sleep, why they don’t need coats, etc. While you’re acting like animals, fix a snack and eat it like a giraffe. Give your little one a bath like a moose. Put on pajamas and pretend like it’s your cat fur. Brush teeth and check them like a chimpanzee. Explain how all animals need love from their parents as you cuddle up for bed time.
Get in your exercise time by dancing with your child. Children love music. There is scientific research proving that certain types of music actually help develop parts of the brain. Sway and stretch to quiet parts. Stomp around and jump to loud exciting parts. Swing your child around, lift them up on your feet, and lift them above your head. You will both be getting some exercise and your child will be developing listening skills, gross motor skills, and imagination.
Teach your child to aim and throw. Go around the house and say that you are basketball players on the hunt for baskets. Find laundry and throw it into baskets from a few feet away. If you have clean clothes, let your child shoot for the target with rolled socks while you fold. Cheer and hug your child when they succeed and praise them for practicing and working so hard. If you need to put clothes into the washer or dryer, let you child help and cheer every time something goes in.
Dusting and cleaning can also be fun for toddlers. Give your child a damp cloth and go around seeing who can find the most dirt. Let them wipe the front of your appliances, tables, counter tops and other surfaces that need wiping down.
Leave plenty of learning toys around for your child to discover. Preschool toys are often designed with development in mind. Something stationary, like an activity table, can give your child opportunities to develop fine motor skills without leaving choking hazards around the house.
About the Author: Jim Ford is the President of KinderMark, a family owned and managed business which sells waiting room toys and waiting room furniture used in doctor’s offices, hospitals, auto dealers, dentists offices and libraries. Preschool toys such as an activity table and learning toys are favorites for pediatric offices. For more information, visit www.kindermark.
Article Source: Learning Activities for Toddlers
