The early years of a child’s life are important stepping stones for future success. Whether they are taking their first steps, smiling for the first time, or even waving goodbye and learning to walk, parents want the best for their children, especially when it comes to their development and education. Supplementing their early learning, especially through play, is recommended in the CDC’s Positive Parenting Tips. This not only helps your baby develop crucial thinking skills but also keeps them from getting bored.
Types of Learning Toys
According to Haba USA, five primary types of toys can help preschoolers with their general development. Included among them are:
- Blocks and nesting sets: help aid in the development of stacking and counting.
- Threading and mazes: allow children to learn pincer grip and fine motor skills through the use of navigating small objects, aiding in hand-eye coordination.
- Puzzles and arranging games: aid in the development of spatial reasoning and problem-solving.
- Dolls and puppets: help a child develop imagination and communication, and learn empathic skills.
- As well as general games, which can involve anything from learning to take turns and follow rules to learning about teamwork and collaboration.
Learning how the world works, and how we as individuals operate within it based on play and behavior, is not only crucial but necessary for overall development. Getting a head start on your child’s early learning will ensure that they succeed in their infancy as well as later on in their life.
What the Research Says
Researchers have determined that Montessori-style education, based on the educational techniques developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, may be superior to traditional education methods. However, this is not always available to children.
Despite this, the American Montessori Society believes that children succeed best when they choose work that challenges and captures their attention. This leads to not only heightened engagement but sustained attention, intrinsic motivation, and a sense of responsibility to oneself and others.
Thankfully, those parents who are looking to incorporate Montessori-style materials into their child’s education can look no further than PlanToys.
What are PlanToys?
PlanToys believes that child development begins the moment your baby is born. Whether it be from learning about the world through visuals, developing creative and social skills, learning about language, and even knowledge of topics such as cause and effect, the people at PlanToys work with child development experts to design toys that engage your child and help them learn in the process.
“The simplicity of the teaching of it, the child-led products, learning and play, and working with Montessori teachers and child development experts, are all aspects that [we] look at when developing [our] toys,” the creators at PlanToys write.
Their toy picks for Montessori-inspired learning and fun at home include the use of:
- Gears and Puzzles: captivates children with hands-on adventures in engineering and creativity with 22 interchangeable gears and pieces.
- 50 Unit Blocks set: a versatile construction toy that unleashes your child’s inner architect by allowing them to build with 50 wooden blocks in 12 different shapes.
- Ramp Racer: entertains and builds hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills while teaching your child about basic physics
- Wave Stacker: encourages endless play through stacking, nestling, balancing, linking, and arranging.
PlanToys’ products are not just fun for your child, but they are also created with sustainable practices and are non-toxic for your child’s safety and your peace of mind. Their world-class recognition includes everything from the Pal Award to the Red Dot Design Award, to the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold and Platinum Awards.
If you’re looking to help aid your child’s early development, consider adding toys to their routine. By incorporating thoughtfully designed toys into your child’s playtime, you can foster an environment of curiosity, creativity, and growth, setting the stage for lifelong learning and success.
