Back to School for Baby

LOS ANGELES-(Business Wire)-August 27, 2009 - It’s that time of year when children everywhere gear up for a new year, new teacher, new friends, and new school supplies.

In the same way school children need new supplies each fall, babies need the proper toys to encourage their emerging physical, social, motor and cognitive skills. Choosing playthings that are also educational can be a daunting task for any parent. Here are a few tips to help you decide which toys best suit your little one’s developmental age.

INFANTS:

Choose brightly colored toys and those with contrasting patterns to help baby focus attention and develop visual acuity.
Toys that make sounds like rattles, balls, and soft toys offer both visual and auditory stimulation.
Textured balls and rattles offer sensory play value and make grabbing easy for even the smallest hands.
Classic teething balls and brightly colored links offer fascinating textures for baby to chew, feel and practice biting and chewing skills.
Silkies, soft dolls and baby-safe stuffed animals can help calm, soothe and relax. Cuddling stimulates tactile exploration and enhances grasping skills. Remember to keep cribs free of toys and stuffed animals.
Older babies enjoy stacking toys, which teaches cause and effect, enhances fine motor manipulation skills, and improves manual dexterity as they stack and sort.

TODDLERS:

A classic set of large or small building blocks provides hours of play. Blocks can develop fine motor skills, problem solving, and creativity. An added bonus? Blocks with pictures, letters and numbers encourage recognition and matching skills.
What parent doesn’t remember his own pound-a-peg set? Children learn to match colors while they pound colorful wooden pegs into a bench—and watch hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity develop before your eyes!

Puppets are a vital part of imaginative play for toddlers. Moving mouth puppets encourage communication, imagination, creativity and emotional expression for kids of all ages.
Puzzles keep little hands and minds busy, encouraging fine motor skills. Look for easy-to-grasp, chunky pieces with colorful, matching pictures.
Linking toys and chains inspire and encourage creative imagination and develop coordination and logical thinking skills. Look for pieces that are easy to hold and connect.

Don’t forget about babies and toddlers when the big kids go back-to-school shopping. Babies need constant stimulation, and developmental toys are a perfect tool to keep them occupied. Start your baby off early with quality toys that entertain, engage and educate, and you’re in for a lifetime of fun!

Alison C. Schur, PsyD, MPH, is an entrepreneur and mom who created her business out of necessity. After sleeplessly running around town searching for the best educational toys for her infant son’s development, she created Baby’s Basics, pre-packaged, age-appropriate toy kits. Schur handpicked every item, including the bag, for its usefulness, educational nature, and high-quality, long-lasting value through many stages of learning and growing. Discover Baby’s Basics at www.babysbasics.com

Send this news item to a friend.

Print This Page