Becoming a parent can be an overwhelming experience. Your child can add so much joy and meaning to your life. At the same time, it can be challenging to provide the right opportunities and environment for the development of your child. As a new parent, you want to give the best of everything to your child, including toys. Research shows that learning through play is an important part of a child’s development, so it is necessary for parents to know that rather than pamper their child with lots of toys, they should provide toys that are age-appropriate.
As an early childhood educator who believes in the Montessori method, I recommend toys that are developmentally appropriate, stimulating, and open-ended so that children can explore and use their creativity. Montessori-inspired toys are not flashy and often don’t include toys that move, talk or light up as the child passively watches on. They are designed to let the child explore, manipulate and learn on their own while having fun playing. When you choose a toy for your child, it should be engaging and calming and should help them develop coordination, creativity, and critical thinking skills. Here, I’m giving you some ideas for Montessori and non-Montessori toys based on age range.
6 months to 1 year:
As the babies are older, they begin to crawl, sit without leaning, walk independently and will start to develop their coordination to pick up and hold things securely in their hands within their first years. They will enjoy holding and manipulating small toys. They will learn about cause and effect and will repeat activities over and over in order to master them. They also like to transfer toys from hand to hand and into and out of containers. Many of the same toys for infants will be used in new ways as they get older. So, at this stage, babies will love toys that stimulate their senses through touch, sight, and hearing, so choose toys with bright colors and interesting textures.
Stacking rings
Colorful stacking rings are fun and help your child develop coordination and concentration. Later when they are older, they can be used to learn colors and counting.
Link for stacking rings: From Baby Planet Nepal
Soft toys, soft blocks, and puppets
These kinds of toys encourage creativity and imagination, develop motor skills, help to manage emotions, and improve self-confidence and social interaction.
Link for soft toys: From Miniso Nepal / From Babyshop Nepal
Link for soft blocks: From Funstation
Link for Puppets: From Aplus Businesslink
Wooden vehicles, pull toys, and softballs
These toys will help develop your child’s fine and gross motor skills and coordination.
Links for wooden vehicles: From Tiny Pods Nepal / From Thulo.com
Link for Pull Toy: From Aplusbusinesslink / From Merobaby
Link for softballs: From The Babyshop Nepal / From CozyKid’s
While there are many toys and play materials that are fun as well as functional, the best way to play with your child is by using real-life materials.
Give them bowls, spoons, funnels, containers with beans, water that can be filled and emptied or transferred from one to another. As your child gets older, give them a dustpan and a brush, or child-sized gardening tools and watering can and engage them in daily activities. This is the best way for them to play as well as to learn practical life skills and develop concentration and coordination. It also encourages them to be independent, to look after the environment, and to become responsible.
You can also give your child materials such as crayons, markers, paint brushes, finger paint, paper, construction paper, and scissors, for drawing, painting, and crafts. Such activities develop fine motor skills, writing, reading and language skills. It will boost self-esteem, imagination and creative expression.
Picking the right toy will definitely help in the overall development of your child, but joining in on the fun and spending time with them is equally important. Playing with your child will help them achieve important physical milestones, develop their brains, improve their emotional and social skills, and encourage language development.
Another important activity for the development of language and vocabulary is reading to your child. Please stay tuned for another article on the importance of reading to your child and age-appropriate books. Until then, enjoy special playtime with your child!
Writer details:
Monica Pradhan is a Montessori-trained, early childhood educator. She is the Head of the Department of the Preschool at Nisarga Batika School. With more than two decades of educational experience as an educator, trainer and administrator, she is passionate about working with young children and making a positive difference in their formative years. She believes that every child has an innate desire to learn, and can reach their highest potential if given a stimulating environment and appropriate learning activities.
Note: Monica Pradhan does not promote these particular toys from these stores and the items have been put based on relevancy.
Credits:
Choosing the Right Toys for the Right Age, Webmd.com
