Jessica Lahner talks about age-appropriate toys for kids
Jessica Lahner, a local woman who owns and runs the online shop, jaxinthebox.com, joins Real Milwaukee to talk about age-appropriate toys for kids. 0-6 months a) Short discussion on child’s development at this age i) Visual tracking, developing depth perception, discovering hands/feet, grasping/reaching at objects, understanding cause and effect b) Appropriate toys (talk about why they work at that age) i) Mobiles/soothers : Tiny Love Classic Mobile ii) Small objects offering different textures and sizes: Infantino Multi-Sensory Shape Set ∗ Common mistakes caregivers make ages 0-6 months o Believing that young babies do not benefit from toys. As a result offer little to no sensory stimulation. o Offer too much stimulation at one time (music, lights, colors all at the same time) 7-12 months a) Short discussion on child’s development at this age i) Has object permanence (things don’t disappear just because baby can’t see them), remembers recent events, experiments with doing things to see what will happen, anticipates what will happen next with familiar activities, beginning to understand language b) Appropriate toys (talk about why they work at that age) i) Play tables: Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Fun with Friends Musical Table ii) Books: Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Martin & Carle; Baby's First Library: Animals iii) Little Tikes Tap-A-Tune Piano 12-18 months a) Short discussion on child’s development at this age i) Large motor development, mastering spatial relationships (up/down, in/out, over/under), deliberately manipulates environment (pushes, pulls, puts thing in and out) b) Appropriate toys (talk about why they work at that age) i) Stacking blocks: The Day the Rain Came: The Story of Noah's Ark Sturdy Building Blocks ii) Push/pull toys: Melissa & Doug Deluxe Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy; Plan Toys Happy Train Common mistakes caregivers make at ages 7-18 months • Offering a toy too early for child to understand it and concluding that baby doesn’t like it or it isn’t a good toy 18-24 months a) Short discussion on child’s development at this age i) Follows basic instructions, better able to communicate needs (but tantrums when frustrated), gets satisfaction from doing things over and over again, increased desire for independence means she wants to do things by herself b) Appropriate toys (talk about why they work at that age) i) Puzzles: Melissa & Doug Vehicles Chunky Wooden Puzzle; Melissa & Doug Sound Puzzle Zoo Animals ii) Shape sorters: Hape Animal House Shape Sorter; Discovery Toys Sunshine Market 2-3 years a) Short discussion on child’s development at this age i) Problem solves through object manipulation, anticipates basic consequences, beginning to pretend play b) Appropriate toys (talk about why they work at that age) i) Building blocks: Treehaus Cardboard Building Blocks ii) Melissa & Doug Deluxe Nina Ballerina Magnetic Dress-Up Doll iii) LeapFrog Fridge Phonics ∗ Common mistakes caregivers make at ages 18 months-3 years • Interfering in child’s independent play. For example: Introducing a toy when child is content playing with another toy; showing the child how to play with the toy the “right way” when child is happy playing in his own unique way. 4-5 years a) Short discussion on child’s development at this age i) Developing strong imagination, can think symbolically, understands others have their own feelings and emotions, can imagine himself in another’s shoes b) Appropriate toys (talk about why they work at that age) i) Creative play/ art toys: Alex Build and Roll ii) LeapFrog Scribble and Write iii) Games: Zimbbos Elephantastic Pyramids Game; Melissa & Doug Block Balancing Games iv) Construction toys: Quercetti Georello Basic Gears Building Set ∗ Common mistakes caregivers make at ages 4-5 years • Helping a child when the child is “stuck” before she has had time to work through the problem herself.