Her toes. No joke.
Question: Hi Barbara,
I have a 6 month old and am struggling to identify toys for
her to play with; ie. toys that will stimulate her mind, but not over
stimulate, things that are safe for her to play with, and help her
develop her motor skills. Do you have any suggestions? Also, any games
that we can play - such as peek a boo - other suggestions?
Thank you! (...)
Truthfully, Rebecca, almost everything in her world is stimulating
to a baby this age. Buying toys? Not necessary. But since you asked,
here are some thoughts from some experts:
* Less is more. Psychologist and brain researcher Jane Healy says
what's important is not not so much what a child plays with as how we
encourage the play to develop. For instance, babies need only one or
two toys at a time . "While the brain at all ages responds to novelty,
children are more likely to investigate new challenges [of an existing
toy] if they are surrounded by familiar things." (From her book, "Your child's Growing Mind, Brain development from birth to adolescence.")
* Avoid toys with sound or video options for babies.
Banging on kitchen pots and pans and wooden and plastic objects is far
better for brain development, Healy says, than any electronic toy.
She'd choose an old-fashioned Jack-in-the-box, where a toddler can see
cause and effect -- I turn the crank, the head pops up -- over an
electronic toy.
* David Elkind
has written an entire book ("The power of play") in an effort to
convince parents that children do not need flash cards at 8-months or
computers at a year.
* Don't try to teach your baby, rather help her create an experience
that is her own. Does she like to play with wadded up wrapping paper?
Put a bunch of wads just out of her reach so she has to stretch her
fingers and limbs to get them.
* Infants thrive on stimulation, but not all at once.
* Give her plenty of time at this age to play on her tummy on a blanket on the floor.
* The typical 6-month-old likes peek-a-boo, as you said; also
pat-a-cake and bye-bye games. Babies love games that involve rhythms
(if you break the rhythm, they'll grin and wait for you to laugh.
Babies learn mastery through repetition. Any game that involves a
person is exciting to a baby.
* Try: over-sized balls, plush toys, soft blocks, thick baby books. (...)
Source: Boston Globe - http://tinyurl.com/kjjmqw