Merry & Bright Ideas for Child Development

The holiday season has arrived and that means lights, music, food, family, and gifts. And I pride myself on gift giving. But my sisters are both insisting my niece and nephews have “enough stuff”. Well, skipping the gifts is not an option. I will maintain my favorite auntie status through the new year. But there must be a way to do both – to give a gift that isn’t going to be forgotten or broken before Valentine’s day, that also doesn’t drive my sisters crazy (because you know, pay back and all that). Now, they are all in very different stages – one is 5, one 16 months, and one 4 months – so finding one golden gift isn’t an option either. And while I try to stay up to date with their latest interests (not to brag but I know all the Paw Patrol pups and their vehicles) and stages of development, I am certainly no expert. But then it occurred to me, I have unlimited access to CCHD’s Children’s Services Program Specialists and they are experts.

With us this month we have Carrie Healy, Children’s Services Program Specialist. She has been with CCHD over nine years, the past three of which have been in Children’s Developmental Services. Carrie is also a mom of three older kids. She and her kids always had the most fun keeping it simple. Going back to the basics of making macaroni necklaces, towers of just about anything to knock over, or going outside to “explore” she focused on the less is more approach. Spending time with your children is the most important part of helping them develop and meet their milestones, and it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to do so. She will help us learn more about toys and activities that will help support development – as well as being fun!

Carrie, you mentioned meeting milestones and development. What exactly are we talking about?

We separate early childhood development into five different domains: cognitive, social emotional, physical/motor, communication, and adaptive.

• Cognitive: Focuses on a child's ability to think, learn, and solve problems.
• Social Emotional: Involves a child's ability to interact with others and manage their emotions.
• Physical/Motor: Includes gross motor skills (large movements like running or jumping), fine motor skills (small movements like writing or grasping), as well as sensory functions like sight, hearing, and touch.
• Communication: Covers a child's ability to understand language (receptive language) and express themselves (expressive language).
• Adaptive: Refers to the skills a child needs for daily living.

But milestones are different based on the age of the child, right? So how can I incorporate those domains into a toy or activity that is right for the child?

You are right, milestones change as children age and learn new skills – but also remember, every child develops at their own pace, so you have to meet them where they are at. In addition to being safe, good toys for young children will match their stage of development and emerging abilities.

That makes sense, so we should sort of break this idea down by age. Let’s start with the early months, birth to 6 months. What sort of qualities do you recommend I look for in a toy for this age group?

Babies like to look at you and follow with their eyes. They like faces and bright colors. They will start to reach, lift their head, turn toward sounds, and put things in their mouth. Some good toys to incorporate development are:

• Things they can reach for, grasp, suck, shake, or make noise with. Rattles, large rings, squeeze toys, teething toys, soft dolls, textured balls, and board books are all great options.
• Things to listen to. Being read books with nursery rhymes and poems or played recordings of lullabies and simple songs will stimulate them.
• Things to look at. Pictures of faces, high contrast flash cards, and unbreakable mirrors are all interesting to them.

Those are all great ideas, what about older infants? Let’s talk about 7-12 months.

These are your movers. They will go from rolling over, to sitting, to scooting, bouncing, creeping, pulling themselves up, and standing in the matter of a few months. They are also starting to understand more words and can grasp things better – moving them in and out of containers. Good toys for them include:

• Things for pretend play. Dolls, puppets, vehicles with wheels, and water toys can all stimulate their imagination.
• Things to drop in and take out. A favorite for this age group. Bowls, buckets, boxes, and nesting toys will keep them occupied long enough for you to have a hot cup of coffee.
• Things to use their large muscles with. Let them explore their new movement with large balls, push and pull toys, and low, soft things to crawl over and under.

Up next, 1-year olds.

One-year-olds are on the go! They are starting to be able to walk steadily and climb stairs (lots of climbing!!!) They will start saying a few words and will play near other children, but not with them yet. Some good toys for them are:

• Board books with simple pictures or photos of real objects.
• Recordings with songs, rhymes, simple stories, and pictures.
• Things to create with. Wide, non-toxic markers, crayons and lots of large paper.
• Things to pretend with. Toy phones, dolls and doll accessories, dress-up items, stuffed toys, plastic animals, and “realistic” vehicles will all be a hit.
• Things to build with. Large wooden blocks or cardboard blocks are perfect for their chubby hands.
• Things for using their large and small muscles. Puzzles, large pegboards, and toys with dials, switches, knobs, and lids, as well as large and small balls.

And for the dreaded terrible-twos?

Toddlers are rapidly learning language and testing the limits. Though they have some sense of danger, they will still be looking to jump, climb, and hang in rough-and-tumble play. They also have good control over their hands and like to do things with small objects. Good ideas for them include:

• Things for solving problems. Wooden puzzles, blocks that snap together, objects to sort, and things with hooks, buttons, or snaps are all great choices.
• Things for pretending and building. Blocks, smaller transportation toys, construction sets, play food and kitchens, dress-up clothes, dolls with accessories, puppets, and sand and water toys will keep them entertained.
• Things to create with. Large non-toxic markers or crayons, large paintbrushes and fingerpaint, large paper, colored paper, scissors made for toddlers, chalk and a chalkboard, and rhythm instruments are all great options to promote creativity.
• Picture books with more details than books for younger children.
• CD players or other ways to play a variety of music.
• Things for using large and small muscles. Large and small balls for kicking and throwing, ride-on toys, tunnels, low climbers, and pounding and hammering toys.

What about older children?

Children 3-6 have a longer attention span than toddlers, but their ability and development can vary. Typically, they talk and ask A LOT of questions. They like to experiment with new things and play with friends, but they do not like to lose! Some good ideas for this age group are:

• Things for solving problems. Larger puzzles, blocks that snap together, collections that can be sorted by length, width, height, shape, color, etc., counting bears, and colored blocks.
• Things for pretending and building. Blocks that can form complex structures, transportation toys, child-sized furniture, dress-up clothes, dolls with accessories, puppets and simple puppet theaters, sand and water toys.
• Things to create with. Large and small crayons and markers, large and small paint brushes, large and small paper, colored paper, preschool scissors, modeling clay and playdough, paper and cloth scraps, glue, rhythm instruments and keyboards, xylophones, maracas, and tambourines. Let them show off their creations by hanging them in a prominent location and asking them to describe what Is in their drawing.
• Picture books with more words and detailed pictures. Read them together and ask them to point things out, or ask what they think will happen next.
• CD players and other ways to listen to music.
• Things for using their large and small muscles. Large and small balls for kicking, throwing, and catching, ride-on equipment (including things with pedals), tunnels, taller climbers, wagons, wheelbarrows, plastic bats and balls, plastic bowling pins, targets and things to throw at them.

That was all great information, I have so many good ideas. Do you have any other suggestions?

Never underestimate the power of gifting an experience rather than a thing. The memory of a great day with someone they love will last much longer than a toy – and it doesn’t take up any room!

• Baking Day. Spend a day baking favorite family recipes together. Sometimes it’s extra messy but let them help anyway!
• Movie Day. Plan a themed movie marathon at home with popcorn and blankets. Ask questions about the characters or what they see.
• Snow Day. Take them out to build a snowman and then enjoy some hot cocoa with mini marshmallows. Let them work on their pincer grasp by adding their own marshmallows.
• Day to Explore. Take them outside to a local park, trail or your own backyard to explore. Turn your walk into a scavenger hunt. 

Top 3 things to remember.

1. When gift-giving, consider items that support the different domains of childhood development.
2. It doesn’t have to cost money to be fun – experiences are gifts too!
3. When all else fails, get outside!