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Baby Toys -
Educational
Toys - Suitability
There are many types of educational toy available and the
vast range on offer can be confusing. It's therefore not unusual that we will
buy an educational toy which will appeal to us but not be suitable for the
baby. The suitability of a educational toys depends on the age and
developmental stage of the baby. Pick an educational toy which will stimulate
the senses and skills that correspond to the correct stage of development ! A
baby's senses are at different stages of development. For instance the sense
of hearing is much further advanced than the sense of sight. Between
birth and 3 months the range of sight is no more than between 8 and 10 inches.
It would therefore make perfect sense to encourage the use of educational toys
that can be appreciated at the appropriate infant development stage.
Baby
Toys -
Baby Development Chart
The following Baby Development Chart provides guidelines to the development
stages and the appropriate educational toys and Interactive toys that can be
chosen and introduced to compliment the development of mental and movement
skills at the appropriate time. These are only guidelines - every infant has
different rates of development - use the Baby Development Chart for choosing
and introducing the right educational and interactive toys at the correct
stage of Development. You will find that by applying the information contained
in the Baby Development Chart you will be able to relate this to your choices
of Interactive and Educational Toys to your advantage and most
importantly your baby's advantage!
Development
Chart to select Baby Toys
| Age
in Months |
What
babies are able to appreciate
Mental and Movement skills
Choose an appropriate Educational or Interactive Toys |
| Newborn
- 1 month |
Soft
Music - High contrast patterns and faces - Will cry if over or under
stimulated. Will be alert for every one in ten hours. |
| 1
- 2 |
Soft
Music - Visual stimulation - Follows sounds and objects |
| 2
- 3 |
Recognises
faces and sounds - Discovers hands and feet - ability to grip objects
developing - likes high contrast images |
| 3
- 4 |
Starts
to explore by taste - follows moving objects - able to bear some
weight on legs |
| 4
- 5 |
Shows
interest in colors - Starts to show preferences - Grips and moves
objects |
| 5
- 6 |
Able to
concentrate on one toy at a time - can roll over |
| 6
- 7 |
Starts
to understand what to do with objects. Can shake a rattle or other toys
- Responds to himself in a mirror - rolls in both directions |
| 7
- 8 |
Realises
that an object may be behind something - loves playing peek-a-boo -
sits independently - reaches out for objects - tries to crawl |
| 8
- 9 |
Starts
to crawl - Understands the concept of building objects - moves an item
from one hand to the other - starts to imitate sounds |
| 9
- 10 |
Understanding
some language phrases - starts to build, stack and disassemble toys -
points - stands with support |
| 10
- 11 |
Understanding
of words continues - starts to build, stack and disassemble toys -
able to pick up smaller items - walks holding on to furniture - likes
to play hand games |
| 11
- 12 |
Understanding
of words continues - able to climb - enjoys and initiates play with
others |
Baby
Toys -
Interactive
Toys
Using
the above development chart will enable you to make
a choice of the most useful interactive toys. The level of interaction will
clearly depend on the development level of the infant. The very best '
interactive toys ' are the baby's parents! Interactive games like peek-a-boo
or hand games like Itsy Bitsy Spider or Here's the Church, Here's the Steeple
will bring hours of interactive entertainment and pleasure to both parents and
babies. Social, mental and movement skills will all be encouraged by the the
number one ' interactive toys ' - the family! A real 'must' when considering
interactive toys is the use of Nursery Rhymes - Visit the following site for
some reminders and a whole host of fascinating information about Nursery
Rhymes - History and Origins
Checklists for New Born Babies !
We have tried to compile a really useful set of checklists indicating quantities as
well as content. We have also added useful information on each category such
as the sections on this page relating to baby toys. The newborn checklist, or layette
checklists, have
been categorised into the following sections - please click the link of your
choice for more useful and non commercial information:
A Development Chart - Baby
Educational and Baby Interactive Toys
The Baby Development Chart will help you to choose the most appropriate
Educational and Interactive toys to suit the age and skill levels. We believe that this information will provide the guidelines
and information that you might require.
Baby Toys - Educational Toys and Interactive Toys
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