Toy Successes and Play Advances
Just shy of a year old, my daughter is progressing in the kinds of play that she enjoys. It’s fascinating to see how her play is changing. She hasn’t really outgrown many toys, but she’s learning to use more primitive ones in new ways and is able to play with more advanced toys.
Books that have extra features, like tabs that pull out or have pieces to touch, are simple examples of this. She is increasingly able to manipulate these books so that she can explore the textures and abilities in her own way. That makes reading and playing much more fun!
Gwen has only recently really started to appreciate fluffy toys, like the teddy bears that she’s playing with at right. She’s enjoyed soft things, but that’s very different from playing with a soft, large toy like these bears. She’s been giving them kisses and talking to them, which shows that she’s understanding them in a different way than just being something soft.
Over the holidays, she received several toys that have been very good for her. I like to see for what age a toy is recommended, but if you think your child is ready for something that’s listed for kids even several years older, go ahead and try it. I got her a latch board that was noted for kids 3 and older. She’s had a great time with it and has managed to get all but one of the locks undone. I think she needs to get more arm strength before she can undo the first lock successfully and with no assistance.
I also got her a shape sorting clock. This item is also recommended for children ages 3 and up. My daughter likes taking the pieces out but isn’t yet ready for more advanced play with this item, like putting the pieces in the correct places, recognizing which shapes are called what, or connecting that it’s a clock, which tells time and has certain features on it. So, as she grows, she’ll get more from this, but she can still play with it now in more limited ways.
Gwen received a puzzle with safari animals on it, Again, it’s recommended for children older than she is, 2 years and up, but she’s been ready for this item. She has connected that the pieces represent certain animals. When we were reading another book and came to a page with a giraffe on it, for example, she connected that the picture of the giraffe on the page was the same kind of animal as the painted giraffe puzzle piece in her hand. Now THAT was a great moment as a parent, to see the “click” sort of learning moment. Maybe she’s made the connection well before then, but this stood out in my mind as a big step.
What I’ve learned over the past few months and especially with some of the Christmas gifts has been not to be afraid of ignoring age recommendations. Gwen likes using her hands and seems to have greater dexterity than some of the other kids her age, so I look for items she can manipulate more. On the other hand, she isn’t yet walking like some kids her age, so I’m not looking at walkers or toys that require her to stand. Be bold! Push boundaries and give them challenges. To help her go boldly where she hasn’t gone before, I am indeed getting her a blue one of these. Nerdy? YOP!
