Do you remember watching an infant move her arm intentionally for the first time? I’d forgotten how intense that simple movement can be, but I was reminded not long ago. My wee one was staring at my hands holding her bottle. She was cradled on my hip (you know, the mama pose) and staring intently. The level of concentration from such a tiny being!
So, there she is boring holes into my hands with her eyes and her arm slowly moves from its usual dangling position, straight as a board, and lands on the bottle. Kinda like that claw grasper thingy some infomercial used to sell to help little old ladies reach light bulbs in the ceiling. She looked up and me as if to say, “Whoa. Did. You. See. That?”
Now she can’t get enough of grabbing things. So much so we’ve nicknamed her “Ms. Grabby Hands.”
However, put a doll in her hands and she’ll lose interest in no time. Once she’s grabbed it she doesn’t know what to do with it. It’s too much for her. Not so for my older daughter who is all about care-taking and being a good mommy to her dolls. She dresses them, puts them to bed, gives them time-outs. You know – all the mommy stuff. It’s so funny to me the developmental differences and how each girl plays with the same toys so differently.
So, I thought I’d brush up on my understanding of what toys are good for infants, toddlers, and “big girls.” Here’s what I’ve discovered:
0-12 months: Because the brain is developing neural pathways, toys that facilitate gross and fine motor skills are best. Mirrors (unbreakable, obviously), mobiles, soft stacking blocks (to knock over), instruments meant to be pounded – all things that stand up to and promote flailing, pounding, mouthing and grasping. Think about introducing all different types of textures, smells, sounds and sights. I personally like to find new textures from nature and tend toward wooden toys over plastic ones, but you get the idea.
12-24 months: Children understand a little about the laws of nature (like gravity and such). They are walking and talking, or somewhere along the continuum from immobile to mobile. For them, cause and effect is huge! Toys that test that theory are perfect. Also, they are getting control of their bodies, so toys that help refine their motor skills are really good for this age.
Toys might take the shape of real household objects like doors and drawers, seeing as opening and closing provides endless entertainment – beware of little fingers getting smushed though. Other good household type toys: small brooms and dustpans, little vacuums or telephones, too. Kids this age like to mimic what they see Mom and Dad doing (this is true for almost any age, to be honest). Pushing and pulling (toys AND people unfortunately) is fun, too, so look for toys that direct that energy toward toys and away from people.
24-36 months: Power. Control. This is the time when the child likes to feel powerful, likes to exert control over her world, so toys like dolls that can be dressed and undressed, small stuffed animals or trains with tracks are great. Stories also begin to take shape here – both listening to and telling stories. And, since a child between 2 and 3 is really getting control of his body, more complex instruments, crayons and markers (unfortunately, given the potential mess they make), and buttoning, lacing or zipping toys really fascinate.
Hope this helps. If you find yourself in need of a toy, think about where that kid is in terms of brain and body development and you’ll know just what to get. Or, more likely, you’ll know what NOT to get and then you can go from there.
photo credits: top – Guillermо, middle – César Rincón, bottom – pajp
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