What to give your child to stimulate developmental growth
When it comes to developmental growth, parents can often be overwhelmed with the differing items they should be purchasing for their child. While some parents opt for the standard flashcard method, others can try and use more controversial methods like the "Your Baby Can Read" program. However, after the initial intrigue wears off, many children grow tired of learning stimuli, especially when it doesn't quite pass off as a toy.
Instead of focusing on developmental growth through monotonous drills, a great way to offer stimulation is through items that can teach while being fun at the same time. When thinking of gifts to give your child, think about some items that can pull double duty for your child.
Bubbles are often thought of as a frivolous toy without much substance, especially when they can be found easily at any local dollar store. However, the act of blowing bubbles actually helps to stimulate the muscles in the mouth, which can be crucial in children with developmental delay. For children with speech difficulties, blowing bubbles can help them to be more aware of their mouth and stimulate movement needed for regular communication.
Play-Doh comes in a number of different forms, far from the same old colored tub everyone has become familiar with over the years. Nowadays, there seems to be a Play-Doh toy to suit every personality, whether it's an ice cream making Play-Doh machine or a Play-Doh dress boutique. The molding of Play-Doh actually works to build hand strength in a child, which can be crucial in developing fine motor skills. Not only will it help your child's ability to hold utensils but it can also be used to teach colors and shapes while having fun.
Problem solving can be seen in a number of early childhood toys, differing depending on the age group of your child. Just as the standard ascending ring toy for infants can help a child to figure out the intended pattern, there are a number of toys that work around this same premise. Instead of gifting the same old car or train that can only be used through solitary play, problem solving toys can stimulate independent thought and give your child the ability to work through a situation.
Bath toys can often be overlooked by parents because it can be just one more room that can become cluttered. However, bath toys can be a great way to spend teaching time with your child through fun play. Bathtub crayons can help to teach colors, sponge stick letters can improve their ability to identify and even squeeze toys can help to build muscle strength in the hands to boost fine motor skills.
While it can be simple to purchase stand alone gifts for your child, dolls and match cars don't really offer much in terms of developmental growth. However, there are some toys that actually implement stimulation that can translate into real world growth. Take advantage of some of these items for the next holiday or birthday and make a difference in the way you see toys for your child.
