THIS IS THE TIME when children are into everything and it can be very hard work and difficult for whoever has the job of keeping them safe and happy.
Sometimes it is easy to forget that what makes your toddler so exhausting - her ENERGY, her CURIOUSITY, her EAGERNESS, her DESIRE for new experiences and her DETERMINATION to do things for herself - are the very qualities that make her fun to be with and that you should be encouraging for they will be important assets throughout her schooldays and in adult life....
AS SHE PLAYS.....
your toddler is learning to HANDLE and CONTROL the things around her, and each success gives her CONFIDENCE to go on to the next stage.
If you can provide your child with playthings which will allow her to make DISCOVERIES and EXPERIENCE new things as she needs to, you will be able to make your life together easier and more rewarding and you might find yourself saying "no" a little less often to your little ones.
Here are 7 SIMPLE GUIDES to the playthings your child will enjoy, and what will interest her as her skills develop.
1) Introduce PULL-ALONG or PUSH-ALONG TOYS ON WHEELS to the child when she is able to walk more STEADILY and CONFIDENTLY because such toys helps child develop her gross motor skills as she learns how to balance as well as enjoying the noises they make for fun.
NOTE: Pulling along a wiggly toy can help GET RID A LOT OF ENERGY at that active time of the day!
2) Introduce SIT-ASTRIDE TOYS, ROCKING HORSE, VEHICLE or ANIMAL ON WHEELS when she can get on and off things and can push along with her legs to encourage a sense of speed, for control as well as balancing.
3) Introduce SAND, PLAYDOUGH and FINGER PAINT when she can be trusted not to put things into her mouth to allow child to experience texture, sensation as well as colours around them.
3) Introduce TOY TELEPHONE and TOY HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT when she wants to be like you to stimulate her imagination. (and sometimes.... the REAL THING!) =)
4) Introduce PEG-BOARD, CRAYONS, BUTTONS, CONSTRUCTION TOYS, JIGSAWS and POSTING TOYS when she can handle small things to develop child's manipulative and coordinating skills.
6) Introduce SMALL CARS, DOLLS AND PRAMS, FARM ANIMALS, WENDY HOUSE or WIGWAM when she wants to create a world of her own to express her understanding of the world.
7) Introduce a PLENTY OF PICTURE BOOKS, STORIES and RHYMES when she enjoys books, looking at pictures singing and dancing so that she can learn about the world she lives in and develop child's language skills (E.g. print awareness, sounds and words)
Have an awesome time spent with your little ones during her years of discoveries and exploration! Enjoy! (^~^)
REFERENCE
Brant, H & . (1986). The Complete Mothercare Manual (2nd ed.). London: Conran Octopus Ltd.
