Are you wondering which early-learning toys might be right for your baby? Discover our advice on how to choose the right toys for a child aged 12 months to 3 years, based on their abilities and the learning they need to develop.
How does baby wake up?
When a child is born, he or she is neurologically, motorically, sensorially and cognitively immature. As they grow up, they gain in competence and mature neurologically. To gain competence, children need to experiment and discover their environment, mainly through play.
All of baby's explorations will have an impact on his perceptive and sensory memory, leading him to enrich his stock of sensory information, which he will memorize and be able to reuse later.
What early-learning activities are available for children?
We're going to distinguish several types of games that appear from birth to adulthood to awaken your child:
Sensorimotor games
In the first two years of a child's life, we talk about sensory-motor play. These are games that help babies discover materials, textures, colors and shapes, as well as the motor action they can take on these objects.
Construction, manipulation and imitation games
At around 15 months of age, the child starts to play what we call construction and manipulation games, as well as symbolic and imitation games. By the age of 1 1/2, the child likes to explore motor skills.
Board games
A little later, around the age of 2 and a half or even 3, we see the appearance of board games and games with rules. These enable children to develop their thinking skills, set up their own strategies and learn to follow the rules of the game.
Our tip: You can have fun diverting toys from their original purpose, starting by using certain parts of the game only when its purpose is a little complex. As children get older, they'll figure out for themselves how to assemble or arrange toy parts.
What materials should be used in children's toys and games?
A wooden baby toy will be long-lasting and sturdy enough to withstand children's tiny hands. Opting for a wooden baby toy has many advantages:
Ecological: an FSC®-certified wooden toy guarantees that it comes from sustainably managed forests. Wood is more environmentally friendly than plastic.
Resistance: baby's toys are going to be handled for a long time, they're going to fall, clash and be put in the mouth. Wood makes them extremely durable. All our toys for children under 3 are voluntarily tested (non-regulatory and non-binding) for paint fading with saliva.
Design: wooden toys have an undeniable charm and have seduced generations of parents and children.
All these advantages make wooden toys extremely durable . Thanks to their long life, they can be passed on from generation to generation if properly cared for.
What kind of early-learning games can stimulate baby?
You can target all of baby's sensory skills by offering :
Building sets
They enable children to develop dexterity, fine motor skills and perception.