As a parent, you want to do all you can to help your child succeed. At the same time, you want to ensure that their childhood is as full of life and fun as possible. And there’s good news! Research shows that simple activities like reading books, playing games, and offering quality toys are some of the best brain-boosters you can give your young children. With this in mind, we have created a list of some of the top baby toys for brain development. Add these to your child’s birthday list, and enjoy watching them explore and learn before your eyes. Before we begin our list, however, let’s talk a little bit about what makes a baby toy good for your baby’s brain.
Simple and Safe
Many advertisements try to convince you that flashier (and more expensive) toys are the best. However, the toys that actually benefit your child the most are the simpler ones. In fact, if you are looking for baby toys for brain development, you want the toys that encourage and challenge your child to do things on their own. This is in direct contrast to the many toys that do things for your children, like play music or talk. Additionally, be sure to look for toys that are safe for your little one, with no choking hazards or breakable pieces. Following these criteria, here are three excellent toys for babies.
Stacking Toys
Toys that stack are great for babies of all ages. The smaller tikes will simply hold and admire one piece at a time. As babies grow, they begin experimenting with putting one object on top of another. These toys don’t have to be blocks. In fact, at many toy retailers, you will find a wide range of stacking toys such as cups, rings, and boxes. We recommend stacking baby toys for brain development because they have many diverse benefits for your child. As babies stack while sitting, they must practice both fine and gross motor skills. At the same time, stacking includes depth perception, crossing the midline, and coordination skills that all babies need to practice. And the best news is that your baby’s stacking doesn’t even need to be successful for them to reap these rewards.
Toys with Parts to Move
Toys with lots of noise and lights may encourage your child to become a passive observer. However, toys with latches, flaps, switches, zippers, and other moving parts stimulate your child to participate in playtime. Even as an infant, your baby will enjoy toys with different textures and sections that crinkle, jingle, or reflect light. Each of these different sensations and activities helps them learn about the world. By interacting with the toy, your child learns new skills and information.
Puzzles
The thought of giving a baby a puzzle may seem a bit ridiculous. After all, it may be quite sometime before your child can successfully complete a puzzle on their own. Still, the early chunky wooden puzzles are excellent learning tools even for very small children. Putting puzzles together requires planning, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. Even before your child can successfully complete a puzzle, they are practicing and developing these skills. Also, puzzles come in a wide array of themes, allowing you to teach and communicate with your child about many different topics. This increases their language skills and encourages them to make connections between pictures and the real world.
Choosing baby toys for brain development doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Simply look for toys that invite your child to explore and interact with the world. And don’t forget to play with your baby! Positive and loving interaction during play will help your child more than any toy. Are you looking for childcare in a place that values playtime for your baby’s sake? Visit your local Legacy Academy to learn more about the ways we help kids thrive.