Stages of Developmental Toys

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.